From the blessing ceremony... to the five-ring dance
Anyone who has ever attended a passionate night of Lam Vong, or has been lucky enough to attend a sacred wrist-tying blessing ceremony of Lao people, will never forget it, and each time it becomes more passionate, each time it becomes more sacred.
In June 1999, in the Ancient Temple in Vientiane, for the first time I attended the blessing ceremony for the opening of the Lao-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank. The candles were sparkling, the yellow flowers were brilliant, and the incense was fragrant. Everyone had arrived early. From the comrades in the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Laos, the Bank for Foreign Trade (BCEL), BIDV, the Lao-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank and many bank officials. The Lao girls in traditional costumes and discreet, graceful scarves, their faces radiant. The presiding monk, in a yellow cassock, solemnly recited prayers for favorable weather, prosperity for the Joint Venture Bank, a peaceful and happy life; and for everyone to love each other. I clasped my hands respectfully and looked around, everyone was calm, kind, and united in praying for good things for the Joint Venture Bank, for you, for me. At the end of the ceremony, the monk solemnly tied a white thread around each person's hand to bless each person.
But perhaps the happiest part of the ceremony was when everyone was in harmony, happy, and blessed each other, tying threads on each other's wrists. The tieters were sincere and affectionate; the receivers were respectful and grateful. I was surprised and happy when the girls and boys from the two countries' banks gathered around, tying threads, and blessing me. My two wrists trembled with hundreds of threads - hundreds of loving wishes - that I knew I would carry with me for the rest of my life, and I believed that those blessings would appear, blossom, and bear fruit in the activities of the Joint Venture Bank, in your life, and mine.
I also attended two more blessing ceremonies, also at this temple. Each time, it was always the same, always respectful, always sacred, always filled with more threads of blessing, always filled with more love. I know that I am a lucky person. I know that you are also lucky. If you are sincere, always come to Vientiane or any place in the beautiful country of Laos, you will receive threads of blessing from simple, honest, hospitable friends, to be lingered as the poet Pham Tien Duat wrote:
"Lao friends bless you
White in the thread, gently tied by hand
While holding this thread
I looked at my mother, then looked at him with empty eyes.
Strangely the thread is fragile
Loosely tied but my heart can not return.
30 years ago, like other Vietnamese students, I was familiar with the melodies of the songs Hoa Champa, Lam Toi, Co Gai Sam Neua, but it was not until June 1999 that I had the opportunity to attend the first Lam Vong night in Vientiane and was immediately ecstatic by the gentle, lyrical melody as passionate as a classical Waltz. Since then, I have attended hundreds of Lam Vong nights. And every time, when the music started, the song was like magic, everyone stood up and wrapped in the gentle Lam Vong circle. No neck shaking, belly shaking, shoulder shaking, no entanglement, only the pure, gentle language of sparkling eyes, of soft lotus-like fingers.
Lao people often give special opening dances to their distinguished guests. During the dances, I saw that from leaders to employees, old to young, everyone was friends, equal, innocent, and enthusiastic; it seemed that fatigue and anxiety were forgotten, giving way to joy, harmony, and youthfulness.
I think that those five-round dances have contributed to the bond between the children of the two countries and the two Banks under the roof of the Joint Venture Bank. Each five-round dance adds another tight embrace. Each five-round dance expands, extending a larger embrace. Over the past six years, the staff of BCEL, BIDV and the Joint Venture Bank have been immersed in many five-round dances filled with special friendship, sympathy, and unity in working together to build the Joint Venture Bank, perhaps taking into account the warm five-round dances. Please visit the Lao-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank, attend one of their five-round dances and you will have the same feelings as me.
Six years have passed, remembering my close Lao friends, remembering beautiful Vientiane, ancient Luang Prabang, remembering the Joint Venture Bank, in my heart the Lam Vong dance melody keeps ringing like a priceless national cultural heritage and has now become a common cultural asset of the Joint Venture Bank, an indispensable performance in BIDV's art performance.
On the happy day of Lao Viet Joint Venture Bank completing construction, moving in, and opening the new headquarters, there will certainly be a solemn blessing ceremony, a passionate night of singing like a bridge connecting the Eastern Truong Son and the Western Truong Son, connecting two distant ends, connecting two banks of love, connecting eyes to eyes, connecting hearts to hearts. So that tomorrow after the night of singing, you will be enthusiastic, strong, and passionate in entering a new working day with a new spirit.
