The opening ceremony of the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan was attended by Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Fumihito, and over 1,300 guests.

At the opening ceremony, students, including students with disabilities from schools in Osaka Prefecture, paraded with flags of participating countries and international organizations at EXPO 2025. Unique performances blending traditional Japanese arts like kabuki and taiko drums with contemporary art left a deep impression on the audience.

💕 Two "Vietnamese Dragon" products from Kymviet were honored to be selected to participate in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

This is a great source of pride as these handicraft products, created by artisans with disabilities at Kymviet, are solemnly displayed in the Vietnam Pavilion – designed in the shape of the traditional conical hat, covering an area of 300m², full of cultural identity and future aspirations. The two dragon figures are not only symbols of wisdom and strength but also represent the resilience, creativity, and humanistic spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The Vietnam Pavilion serves as a focal point for convergence and dissemination of "proud stories about Vietnam" shared with international friends about a society built on good cultural values, centered around people, leveraging endogenous strength for sustainable development in an era of growth, aiming for harmony, equality, and leaving no one behind.

The World Expo is one of the three largest global events (along with the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games), attracting participation from most countries at the state level. The World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima Island, Osaka, Japan, with the participation of 158 countries and international organizations. Under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai aims to attract 28 million domestic and international visitors.

Cultural Heritage: The Enduring Vitality of Vietnam

In his opening speech, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized: "Cultural heritage is not only the crystallization of history and national identity but also a bridge to bring Vietnam closer to the world."

The event was held at the beginning of 2025, in the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) of the Year of the Snake, creating a space that blended tradition and modernity. Images of the country and people of Vietnam were vividly recreated through short videos, introducing the beautiful natural scenery and the simple, sincere nature of the Vietnamese people.

In particular, the Ao Dai performances – the spiritual symbol of Vietnamese culture – attracted the attention of all the guests. The Ao Dais on display were not only for women but also for men and children, demonstrating the harmonious combination of tradition and modern creativity.

The unique feature of the event was that the performances were all performed by "home-grown actors," including the spouses and children of the Consulate General of Vietnam and Vietnam Airlines in San Francisco. This presence created a close and friendly atmosphere, while also demonstrating the close bond between the members of the diplomatic community and the Vietnamese airline.

In addition, traditional Vietnamese dance and music performances, carefully prepared, contributed to highlighting the national cultural identity. These performances were not only artistic but also a way to convey the spirit and soul of the Vietnamese people.

Famous chef Martin Yan is a big fan of KymViet's handcrafted products and Vietnamese fine art products on display at the Community Tet Festival in San Francisco on January 18, 2025.

Vietnamese Fine Arts and Handicrafts: A Symbol of Talent and Creativity

A special highlight of the event was the fine arts and handicraft products from famous craft villages such as Van Phuc silk, Bat Trang pottery, Kym Viet stuffed animals of disabled people as well as hand embroidery products, rattan weaving, lacquer, Dong Ho paintings, etc.

These products not only demonstrate the talent of the artisans but also reflect the depth of culture and history of the Vietnamese nation, which has been preserved and developed through many generations.

Dr. Nguyen Dung Thuong, Director of SEAFIT, shared: "The handicraft works on display today are not merely products but also symbols of the history, tradition, and spiritual values of the Vietnamese nation."

The transportation of these products from Vietnam to the United States was carried out through close coordination between the Consulate General, SEAFIT, and Vietnam Airlines. The event not only promoted the quintessence of Vietnamese craft villages but also opened up opportunities for trade and cultural connection with international friends.

Promoting Cultural Exchange and International Cooperation

The event attracted the participation of more than 120 delegates including diplomatic corps, business people, and international partners, creating opportunities to promote cultural exchange, trade and sustainable cooperation between Vietnam and other countries. Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his hope that the representatives attending the event today will become bridges, spreading Vietnamese cultural values and contributing to building long-term cooperative relationships.

SEAFIT plays an important role in organizing the event, while affirming its goal of continuously increasing the commercial value of Vietnamese handicraft products in the international market. The cooperation between the Consulate General and SEAFIT is seen as a typical example of joint efforts in preserving and developing cultural values.

The Meaning of the Year of the Snake and New Expectations

In Vietnamese culture, the Year of the Snake is a symbol of intelligence, flexibility, and rebirth. Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his hope that the new year will bring new progress in the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the United States, especially in the fields of culture and economy.

He emphasized: "The handicraft products and cultural values that we introduce today are proof of the creativity and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people. This is the foundation for building an increasingly close relationship of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the international community."

Closing the Event with Unexpected Success

The event "Introducing Vietnamese Heritage: Silk, Ao Dai, and Fine Handicraft Products" closed with deep impressions, thanks to the effective coordination between the Consulate General, SEAFIT, and Vietnam Airlines. The success of the event not only stopped at promoting culture but also contributed to raising the image and position of Vietnam in the international arena.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that this event is only the beginning of larger cooperative initiatives in the future, towards the goal of raising the position of Vietnamese culture in the international arena.

Mr. Pham Viet Hoai (founding member of Kym Viet Company) talks with garment factory staff about products.

Kym Viet was established in 2013 with the aim to create jobs for people with disabilities, thus contributing to improving their incomes and improving their lives while helping them to integrate into the community; and to create sophisticated handicraft products with high use value and aesthetic value to serve the society.

With the business orientation of living by the product foundation, meet the market demand on design, colour and quality, not rely on compassion, all materials produced at Kym Viet have a clear origin, and ensure health and safety.

Kym Viet has received and created jobs, accommodation for 22 people with disabilities with an average stable salary of more than 6 million VND/person/month.

The company always educates its staff to understand that: People with disabilities can make good products, only by that will they remove their barriers of inferiority and society's stereotypes

Most of the workers here have difficulties in communication, some people who are still slow in perceiving colours, skills and techniques are not as quick as normal people, so they get trained from 8 months to more than 1 year to participate in production.

Every needle and stitch is filled with efforts of each worker here.

Kym Viet's production facility space also features a cafe, where customers can not only view and choose to buy products, but can also come to learn how to communicate in sign language and better understand the positive messages of the disabled community.

Besides the high use and aesthetic value, Kym Viet wishes to convey to customers human stories and Vietnamese culture through its products

Currently, Kym Viet's fabric stuffed products have been selected as gifts on Vietnam Airlines flights or for those attending domestic and international cultural week events and handicraft fairs. Many partners or tourists directly came to the factory to learn and order products.

Mr. Pham Viet Hoai and the founders of Kym Viet hope that this model will be replicated in big cities and tourist destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, etc. to create jobs for the disabled community, thereby helping them have a stable income, help their families, as well as reduce the burden on society.

According source : VOVworld