On 18 June 2016, the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Thailand, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture of Thailand, Thai Airways International; and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, organized a Hun Lakhon Lek (traditional small puppets) performance, entitled “Jantharuparakha” (The Legend of Lunar Eclipses). The performancewas carried out by the Thai Classical Small Puppet Theater (Joe Louis) at Hanoi Opera House to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam.

            The Hun Lakhon Lek performance was honoured by General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, Deputy Prime Minister, who, together with H.E. Mr. Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, jointly presided over the event. Also present as guests of honour from Thailand were H.E. Mrs. Chawirat Kasetsunthorn, Vice Minister of Culture of Thailand and Consul-General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City and Team Thailand. Guests of honour from Vietnam included H.E. Mr. Vu Hong Nam, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam; Senior General Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Minister of Public Security of Vietnam;H.E. Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai, Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam; H.E. Mr. Ta Quang Ngoc, President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association (VTFA) and the association’s executive members.

            In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Manopchai Vongphakdi, Ambassador of Thailand to Vietnam stated that, in addition to celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam, the event’s purpose was to encourage cultural exchange and further strengthen both countries’ amiable relationship, in accordance with the Agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme between Thailand and Vietnam for the years 2014 – 2016. Moreover, the event in which the Thai Classical Small Puppet Theater was joined by the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre also greatly contributed to the preservation of both Thai and Vietnamese art and craft of traditional puppetries.

            The performance was successful with over 600 attendees, including members of the diplomatic corps, Vietnamese governmental officials, members of the press, students and expatriates, and Thai community in Hanoi.