2018-01-30 Tue

Vietnam and India have jointly issued a set of commemorative postage stamps featuring ancient architecture of both nations. The event is a part of the 45th-anniversary celebrations of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties. The two nations have been a part of a Strategic Partnership for the last 10 years and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since one year. India’s Buddhist monument Sanchi Stupa and Vietnam’s Pho Minh pagoda are featured on the stamps. They are designed by artists from respective countries.

Officials mentioned that this is the first ever joint issue of commemorative postage stamps on the theme of “ancient architecture”. The stamps symbolise friendship between India and Vietnam. Relations between the two countries have been budding in terms of politics, diplomacy, economy, trading, security, energy, culture, education and technology and people-to-people exchange.

Built in the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225) and expanded in 1262, the 20-meter tower pagoda Pho Minh is located in the northern province of Nam Dinh. The 14 storeys of the pagoda were carved like flowers, waves, and clouds.

One of the oldest stone structures in India Sanchi Stupa, was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BC. A hemispherical brick structure was built over the relics of the Buddha.

500,000 national postal stamps and 500,000 international postage stamps from the set of stamp templates will be printed and released.