Activities were held in Wernigerode town, Germany, from August 24-27 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the friendship and twinning relationship between the city and Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam, Vietnam, VNA reported.

A corner of the Hoi An Garden at the Miniaturen Park ‘Kleiner Harz’ in Wernigerode. Photo: Thuan Le Ngoc/FB

Wernigerode, with its historic town center and lavishly restored and colorful half-timbered houses lies on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains. The small city in Harz County has a population of about 35,000 people and more than 2,000 old houses.

Since 2013, Hoi An and Wernigerode had signed an agreement, marking the debut a sisterhood between the two cities. On that occasion, a lantern festival was held in Wernigerode, showcasing thousands of lanterns made by Hoi An artisans. Other sports and cultural activities also took place with the participation of Vietnamese artists and Vietnamese expatriates in Germany.

This is the third time that hundreds of lanterns of Hoi An Town are presented at Wernigerode, turning this ancient city in the heart of Europe into a bustling, colorful place, bearing the look of an Asian festival.

The Lantern Festival not only gives visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a brilliant space, but also gives friends from all over the world a chance to experience a miniature Hoi An with Vietnamese-style features in the heart of Germany.

In addition to the unique traditional art performances, Ao Dai festival, food booths, the inauguration ceremony of inauguration ceremony for the Hoi An Garden at the Miniaturen Park ‘Kleiner Harz’ and the opening of the bridge named Hoi An in Wernigerode, creating a series of activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the two sister cities becoming more impressive and meaningful than ever.

Although 10 years is not a long way, it is enough for the people of Hoi An and Wernigerode to understand each other better.

At the opening of the bridge named Hoi An in the city of Wernigerode. Photo: Ngoc Cam/FB

Chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee Nguyen Van Son pointed out that the two localities have many similarities as Hoi An is a world cultural heritage recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) while Wernigerode boasts many ancient architectural works. Both cities attract large numbers of tourists.

Son highlighted that cooperation activities between Hoi An and Wernigerode over the past ten years have helped strengthen connection and people-to-people exchanges between the two cities and the two countries.

He emphasized that the two cities will continue to implement the commitments made in the past time to further tighten the friendship between Vietnam and Germany.

For his part, Mayor of Wernigerode Tobias Kascha said in addition to boosting understanding between the two nations people, especially those from the two cities, they have carried out projects that generated positive results, such as a German-funded solar power project installed in Hoi An, a cultural centre built in Hoi An and a vocational training project.

Delegates cut the ribbon opening Hoi An Garden at the Miniaturen Park ‘Kleiner Harz’ in Wernigerode. Photo: Thuan Le Ngoc/FB

According to the mayor, leaders of Hoi An and Wernigerode agreed on certain points in their upcoming cooperation plan. Specifically, the two sides will continue to implement a vocational training project for students from Hoi An to Wernigerode.

Wernigerode authorities will support Hoi An to build an "eco-road" so that Hoi An people can feel the atmosphere like in Wernigerode. Finally, they will promote the tourism development project in Hoi An through the issuance of a tourism quality certificate.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh said that Hoi An and Wernigerode are the two first cities of Germany and Vietnam to get a twinning relationship.

The relationship was made at the same time Vietnam and Germany set a strategic partnership. Therefore, the two cities’ twinning relationship has become a model for cooperation between cities and localities of the two countries, according to the diplomat.

A performance at the inauguration ceremony of Hoi An Garden at the Miniaturen Park ‘Kleiner Harz’ in Wernigerode. Photo: VNA

At Lantern Festival in Wernigerode. Photo: hoianrt.vn

A performance at Lantern Festival. Photo: Ngoc Cam/FB

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