Hidden faces: Masks used in traditional Talchum dance are displayed at the museum. — VNS Photo Minh Thu

HA NOI (VNS) — Wearing colourful costumes and wonderful masks, South Korean artists thrilled Vietnamese audience with performances of a traditional dance, Talchum, on Sunday to mark the nation's culture week at the Viet Nam Women's Museum.

Made from wood, pasteboard, feathers and dried gourds, the masks reflect the faces of people, gods and animals.

Through masks and dance, the artists told tales relating to life and production and sent messages to the gods for prosperity and happiness.

Fourteen artists from Jeju Doorunanum folklore art troupe also performed Pungmul (peasants' dance), which is often performed in spring.

For seven days, visitors will get the chance to learn about the dances through an indoor exhibition of photos, musical instruments, costumes, masks and props. Musicians will also offer dance and drum lessons.

Visitors can also learn how to make masks and try on South Korean costumes.

During the festival, visitors can try Korean food such as kimchi, gimbab (rice rolled with beef and vegetables) and tokbokki (made from soft rice cake, fish and sweet red chilli sauce).

"South Korea is a developed country with a dynamic and modern culture," said Park Nark-jong, director of the Korean Cultural Centre. "We still possess a unique, age-old culture that has been developed over thousands of years."

"Modern South Korean culture, such as K-pop, is wildly popular with young Vietnamese, but this is the first time traditional culture has been performed on a large scale," said Park.

"We are not professional artists, we are ordinary South Koreans, that's the reason why I think we can communicate easily with Vietnamese people and share our heritage," leader of the troupe Shim Kyo-ho said.

The South Korean Culture Week is ongoing at the Vietnam Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ha Noi until Saturday. — VNS