Hanoi seeks to promote the culture and image of Vietnam, including the capital city itself, in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil more broadly.

Delegates at the meeting.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Hanoi Nguyen Lan Huong shared this perspective during a meeting with Marcelle Torres Alves Okuno, nominated by the Vietnamese Embassy for appointment as Honorary Consul in Brazil.

Huong is currently on a working visit to Brazil as part of Hanoi’s 2024 people-to-people exchange program.

During the meeting, Huong provided an overview of Hanoi’s socio-economic situation and expressed the hope that the honorary consul would serve as a bridge, actively promoting the culture, people, and image of Vietnam, particularly Hanoi, in Rio de Janeiro and across Brazil.

She emphasized that this partnership would deepen the friendship between the people of Brazil and Vietnam and also help protect Vietnamese citizens in Brazil while strengthening connections between the Vietnamese community and local authorities.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Hanoi Nguyen Lan Huong and Marcelle Torres Alves Okuno.

Okuno expressed her honor to be nominated as Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Brazil. She shared with the delegation her recent activities, especially post-Covid, focused on strengthening friendly relations between Vietnam and Brazil. Based in Rio de Janeiro, Okuno noted that she has a strong affinity for Vietnam and extensive ties with politicians, diplomats, and business leaders.

Okuno currently works with AsiaColors, a private company promoting public diplomacy efforts among Asian nations in Brazil, with a mission to foster intercultural relations.

She is also a member of a research team with the Public Diplomacy Council based in the US.