As many as 42 objects related to Southeast Asian cultures are on displayat an exhibition, which opened in Hanoi on October 4 in the presenceof the Swiss, French, Swedish and Indonesian diplomatic corps in Hanoi.

The exhibition, “A glimpse of South EastAsia”, which presents costumes, lacquer art and Indonesian tribal artpaintings on glass, is part of a Southeast Asia Corner project, avirtual museum on the regional cultures.

The project aims to enrich public knowledge of the diverse and vibrant Southeast Asian culture.

It is also expected to help visitors discover the similarity anddifference between nations in the region, said organisers from theVietnam Ethonology Museum , which will house the Southeast AsianCorner.

Since 2006, the museum has collected over2,000 objects, 8,000 documentary pictures and more than 30 video tapesfrom the other nine members of the Southeast Asian Nations, namelyThailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei,Singapore, Laos and Myanmar.

Under the project, abuilding called “Kite” is now under construction to showcase fabrics andcostumes, daily life, social life, performance art and religion of theregional countries.

The Head of the SoutheastAsian Section, Dr. Vi Van An, said the collection has highlighted thetraditional weaving technology with special techniques and productspopular not only in the region but also in Europe .

He cited two Gadang costumes of tribes living in north of the Philippines .

Also worth of notes are nine lacquer-painted objects of Myanmar , including those dating back hundreds of years.

“A Glimpse of Southeast Asia” exhibition will last until November 5, 2011./.