Ancient Mexican culture on display in Hanoi

THE HANOI TIMES — Visitors in Hanoi will be able to explore the beauty and cultural depth of ancient Mexican civilizations in the exhibition Journey through ancient Mexico: Gods, People and Nature scheduled in May at the Hanoi Exhibition Center, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street.

Curated by Dr. Laura Elena Sotelo from Maya Research Center, the exhibition is the first time that the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH) has presented its typical artifacts to Vietnamese. 

The event will be followed by the exhibition Contemporary Art from Northern Mexico from September 12 to October 12.

The exhibition features a variety of art forms, such as graphics, murals, videos and objects, created by artists from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Aarón Eivet and Rubén Gutiérrez, under the curatorship of Ariadna Ramonetti.

Specifically, on April 23 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Institute for American Studies (VIAS) and the Mexican Embassy in Vietnam will hold an academic conference to explore the potential for developing relations between Mexico and Vietnam.

The Mexican Embassy is also coordinating with the Matías Romero Institute of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs to compile a collection of essays entitled "Vietnam and Mexico: Towards the Future" with the participation of many renowned scholars from both countries. This collection is expected to be published in November 2025.

On May 9, the Vietnamese edition of the famous work El Libro Salvaje (The Wild Book) by Mexican writer Juan Villoro will be launched at Hanoi University.

On November 3, the Day of the Dead (Día de muertos), one of the most distinctive cultural features of the Mexican people, will be celebrated at Hanoi University. Students from the Spanish Department and the Mexican Embassy in Vietnam will present a traditional Mexican altar to introduce the cultural significance of this traditional holiday.

The Mexican Radio Institute (IMER) has produced two special radio programs entitled "A Sound Journey through Traditional Mexican Music" and "Magical Sounds of Mexico". These programs will be broadcast in Vietnamese on May 19 on Voice of Vietnam and Hanoi Radio (FM96).

In addition to cultural activities, the program also includes culinary and business promotion events. In particular, the Mexican culinary program "50 Years of Flavor and Friendship with Vietnam" with the participation of Chef Tomas Alaníz will take place from May 16 to June 16 at the  Metropole Hanoi Hotel , the former headquarters of the first Mexican Embassy in Vietnam (1976-1980).

In November, "Tequila: Flavors from Mexico to Vietnam" will be held for importers, distributors and trade partners under the direct guidance of tequila expert Gabriela Cañedo. On this occasion, the Mexican Embassy also coordinated the organization of academic activities to emphasize the importance of bilateral relations between Mexico and Vietnam, while making practical suggestions to promote cooperation.

Notably, in October in Danang city, there will be an exhibition Mexico: World Heritage of Humanity and a ceremony to re-inaugurate the sculpture Totem City Stories by famous artist Paloma Torres.

The exhibition Giant Heads from the Gulf of Mexico will be held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City in September. The public will be able to admire a replica of the Olmec colossus "El Rey" or "Colossus No. 1" along with images that introduce the discovery process and the importance of the Olmec colossus in the context of ancient Mexican civilizations.

According to the Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam, Alejandro Negrín, the programs not only bring the Vietnamese public a closer look at Mexico, but also reflects the great potential for cooperation between the two countries. This is truly a special occasion to celebrate the similarities and strong ties between Mexico and Vietnam.

"Over the past 50 years, we have built a strong political and economic relationship with Vietnam, and we are now working to deepen this relationship in all aspects," the ambassador said.