On 15 September 2023, the Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo hosted “Thai Wellness Day with Female Ambassadors in Oslo: Experiencing Thai Food and Thai Massage in Norway” at the Thai Residence. The event featuring Thai food cooking demonstration and traditional Thai massage therapy sessions to relax the neck and shoulder areas for everyone. Invited guests include Ambassadors and diplomatic corps of Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Bulgaria, Poland, Ireland, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Palestine, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, and Tunisia, Ms. Bente Angell-Hansen, former Secretary General, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Ragne Lund, former Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, Mr. Daniel Tran Huynh, Deputy City Council of Oslo, a representative from the South-East Police district, Mr. Egil Sundvor, Chief Editor of Documentary Content, NRK, Friends of Thailand in Norway, and representatives from Thai community in Norway.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, said that this event was held exclusively for the Female Ambassadors in Oslo (FAO) group as FAO is an important voice for the advancement of women’s rights and empowerment in diplomacy.

The event was to promote Thailand’s soft power on gastro tourism and wellness tourism. The Embassy is determined to promote traditional/ethical Thai massage in Norway, a respectable profession, which is considered an alternative medicine and very therapeutic. It was also the soft launching of the project to elevate the standard and empower Thai massage in Norway by the Thai Women’s Association in Norway.

At the end of her remarks, Ambassador Vimolbajra said that, for her, this project is about empowerment of Thai women in Norway, to provide them with the self-esteem, integrity, dignity and to give them better opportunities to stand on their own feet. By inviting her colleagues, the Female Ambassadors in Oslo, to join in today’s event is about women empowering women. Their presence today is very meaningful in supporting our efforts in promoting traditional/ethical Thai massage in Norway and to enhance its good reputation it truly deserves.

Thai cooking demonstration presented creative, healthy, and delicious dishes, namely Beef Panang Curry with rice, Tom Kha Risotto (Vegetarian), Mung Bean Rice Crepe (Kanom Tua Pab), and Thai Coconut Ball (Kanom Tom).

The Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the FAO group, members of the diplomatic corps in Oslo, and Friends of Thailand in Norway who joined us in the “Thai Wellness Day with Female Ambassadors in Oslo: Experiencing Thai Food and Thai Massage in Norway”. We are happy that everyone had a good and relaxing time on Friday afternoon at the event. We hope our Friends of Thailand in Norway will continue to support our efforts to promote Thai food and Thai massage in Norway which will have health benefits for everyone. See you again. Sawasdee ka. Tusen Takk.

The Embassy would also like to thank you Mr. Wannachai Injaeng, our professional photographer of the event, for his beautiful photographs. He can be reached at 90964879 or at https://www.facebook.com/welaiphoto.