US-ASEAN Cultural Connect event series promote cultural exchange and deeper understanding between the United States and Southeast Asia. Through programs that highlight diplomatic milestones, celebrating cultural heritage and strengthening people-to-people connections, the initiative fosters mutual appreciation and creates strong foundations for future collaborations between the two regions.
November 2025
The U.S.–ASEAN Center in cooperation with the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States and the Vietnam Center for Culture and Art Exhibition, hosted a two-day program titled Celebrating 30 Years of Vietnam–U.S. Relations: An Exhibition of Photos and Handicrafts. The event commemorated three decades of diplomatic engagement between Vietnam and the U.S., recently advanced to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and highlighted the role of cultural exchange and people-to-people ties in advancing the bilateral relationship. The exhibition presented a curated selection of photographs documenting milestones in Vietnam–U.S. cooperation, alongside images of UNESCO-recognized natural and cultural heritage sites. Complementing these visual materials were traditional handicrafts and representative examples of Vietnamese attire, including the Ao Dai and ethnic minority costumes. The program contributed to enhanced cross-cultural understanding in strengthening relations between Vietnam, the United States, and the broader Southeast Asian region.
June 30, 2025
The U.S.-ASEAN Center hosted a discussion on “Advancing Regional Cooperation: Insights from the U.S.–Cambodia Cultural Property Agreements.” The event featured keynote remarks from Deputy Chief of Mission Oum Socheat of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia and Glen Davis, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Cultural Heritage Center.
Panelists included Dr. Annalisa Bolin (Cultural Heritage Center), Dr. Emma Stein (Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art), and Dr. Stephen Epstein (Antiquities Coalition), who shared perspectives on cultural heritage preservation and international cooperation. Moderated by US-ASEAN Center Director Anh Hoang, the conversation highlighted the impact of the U.S.–Cambodia agreements in protecting heritage and disrupting trafficking networks.
August 2024
In coordination with the ASEAN Committee of Washington, the U.S.-ASEAN Center hosted its first annual celebration of ASEAN Day, which commemorates the founding of ASEAN on August 8, 1967.
Diplomats, private sector stakeholders, and Southeast Asia affiliates in the D.C. area enjoyed a rich selection of cultural performances, exhibitions, and food, in addition to presentations on educational exchange opportunities between ASEAN and the United States.
