CVCEC co-hosts ‘From the Vietnamese Lotus to the Canadian Maple Leaf’ exchange in Hanoi

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2026 — The Canada Vietnam Cultural & Educational Council (CVCEC) co-hosted “From the Vietnamese Lotus to the Canadian Maple Leaf,” a cultural and educational exchange held in Hanoi on April 21, 2025.

The evening event at the Stellami Art Education Center, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, brought together guests from the diplomatic, academic, cultural and professional sectors to discuss how culture and education can support long-term co-operation between Vietnam and Canada.

The event’s name draws on two national symbols: the lotus, which represents purity, wisdom and resilience in Vietnam, and the maple leaf, which represents Canada’s multicultural and inclusive society.

The exchange was co-organized by:

• ORCCED (Organization for Connecting and Developing Cultural & Educational Resources of Vietnam), under ALOV;
• the Canada Vietnam Cultural & Educational Council (CVCEC);
• the Vietnam Academy of Image & Protocol (PAVI);
• AICI Vietnam, the Vietnam chapter of the Association of Image Consultants International.

Discussions focused on understanding between Vietnamese and Canadian cultures, co-operation in education and training, professional and institutional networks, and creating a space for people who have studied or lived in Canada or are interested in Vietnam–Canada relations.

Speakers and guests included:

• Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh;
• Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Trung;
• Tran Nhat Hoang, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
• Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, deputy director of ORCCED;
• Le An Na, president of AICI Vietnam, founder of PAVI and deputy director of ORCCED;
• Danny Vo, executive board member of AICI Vietnam and vice-president of the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs Overseas;
• Hoang Huong Giang, director of G-Art Center;
• Albert Lee, senior trade commissioner, Embassy of Canada in Vietnam;
• Phan Thi Quynh Trang, founder and president of CVCEC.

CVCEC said the exchange reflects its commitment to building lasting ties between the two countries through culture and education.