President Balducci made the affirmation in a recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai.

Florence will hold a photo exhibition in May on the province’s late Mayor Giorgio La Pira, who represented the UN General Assembly to conduct peace talks with President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi in November 1965.

Prof. Mario Primcerio, assistant to the late Mayor, and Mr Balducci will also attend a workshop on President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi to mark the late Vietnamese president’s 120th birth anniversary.

Florence will invite a water puppet troupe from Vietnam to perform in the province in October as part of a cultural exchange programme between the two sides.

Many other activities will be held to promote cultural and trade ties between Italy’s Toscana region and Florence and Hanoi.

Meanwhile, the northern Italian city of Trento has planned to send its well-known child choir to Hanoi on this occasion.

Milan city has also announced that it will send its orchestra of La Scala theatre to Vietnam, while Genoa city has set up a committee to support the anniversary of Hanoi.