Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO), in collaboration with the embassies of seven countries, he꧋ld a friendship exchange programme onౠ April 21 evening to celebrate the traditional New Year of India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

The event was intended to bring the traditional New Year atmosphere to the seven countries’ officials, students and people who are working and living in Vietnam, while helping the people of Hanoi better understand the traditional culture of these countries.

Participants performed traditional New Year rituals of different countries such as Buddha bathing ceremony, water splashing for good lucꦛk, wrist thread tying ceremony and Holi festival.

HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky extended his wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to international friends. He expressed his hope that peace and friendship activities organised by HAUFO will contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and tightening solidarity between the people of Vietnam and Hanoi capital and those of other countries, particularly Asian ones. Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang expressed his thanks to HAUFO for organising this meaningful activity. He said he was pleased to see that in recent years, the friendship and cooperation between Hanoi in general and HAUFO in particular and the diplomatic corps has been continuously consolidated and developed. On this occasion, Ambassador Houngboungnuang introduced to participants his country’s traditional Bunpimay festival with the meaning of dispelling bad things and wishing each other a happy new year, and peace and prosperity for the country./.