Hanoi’s 2025 Friendship Spring Festival forges cultural exchange
As the sun rose over Me Linh’s flower fields and the Trung Sisters Temple, Hanoi’s 2025 Friendship Spring Festival reflects a testament to Vietnam’s ability to blend history, culture, and diplomacy into a single, unforgettable experience.
The annual Friendship Spring Festival 2025, a vibrant celebration of Vietnamese culture and international camaraderie, unfolded at the Trung Sisters Temple National Special Relic and Me Linh Flower Village in the outlying district of Me Linh, Hanoi.
Organized by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO), the Tourism Department of Hanoi, and Me Linh District authorities, the event drew over 400 delegates, including ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and showcasing Hanoi’s rich heritage.
Leaders of the Hanoi Party Committee, HAUFO, Me Linh District, and ambassadors attended the Friendship Spring Festival 2025 at Trung Sisters Temple, Me Linh District, Hanoi. Photo: Viet Anh
A tribute to history and culture
The festival started with traditional rituals at the Trung Sisters Temple, a site honoring Vietnam’s legendary female warriors, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, who symbolize national pride and resilience. Designated a National Special Relic in 2013, the temple attracts visitors seeking to connect with Vietnam’s storied past. Delegates offered incense, took historical tours, and planted trees to symbolize lasting friendship.
They explored Me Linh’s famed flower village, a hub of roses, chrysanthemums, and lilies grown by local farmers for decades. Foreign diplomats were taught how to make immortal flowers (a traditional art), cook “banh gio” (pyramid-shaped rice cakes), and sample lotus-scented tea. The village’s shift toward ecotourism and agritourism underscores Me Linh’s ambition to become a must-visit destination on Hanoi’s cultural map.
Delegates and ambassadors offered incense, planted trees, and participated in the dried flower-making experience at Trung Sisters Temple, Me Linh District, Hanoi. Photo: Viet Anh
HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky emphasized the festival’s role in promoting Hanoi’s vision of a “civilized, cultured, modern" capital while deepening people-to-people diplomacy. “This event offers international friends a window into Vietnam’s cultural soul and the warmth of its people”, he said.
Moroccan Ambassador Jamale Chouaibi, on behalf of the diplomatic corps, praised the initiative: “Vietnam’s efforts to share its heritage through such programs strengthen global solidarity. The Trung Sisters’ legacy reminds us of the courage that defines this nation.”
Beyond cultural exchange, the festival aligns with Hanoi’s socio-economic goals. Me Linh’s flower industry, generating over 500 million blossoms annually, exemplifies how tradition fuels modern development. Local leaders highlighted opportunities for international partnerships in tourism and agriculture, aiming to elevate Hanoi’s global standing.
Gesture of friendship
The day concluded with heartfelt gestures, including gifts to female ambassadors and spouses in honor of International Women’s Day (March 8), underscoring the festival’s spirit of inclusiveness.
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Delegates and ambassadors explored Me Linh’s famed flower village. Photo: Viet Anh/The Hanoi Times
As Vietnam approaches key milestones in 2025, including the 80th anniversary of its independence, the Friendship Spring Festival demonstrates Hanoi’s commitment to bridging history and progress. Through the program, Hanoi honors its past and cultivates a future rooted in global collaboration.
