Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on December 4, French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noel Poirier expressed his expectation that the week will draw around 3,000 people and create opportunities for Da Lat and its French partners to co-operate in agriculture, tourism and scientific and technological study – particularly in nuclear power.
An exhibition of maps showcasing Da Lat’s history and development opens at Hoa Binh Museum on December 9. Three experts from the French School of the Far East will introduce rare maps, diagrams and sketches describing the city’s development periods. Included are old photos taken during the first French discovery trips, images of Da Lat natives and photos depicting France’s decision to build a city on the beautiful highland.
The exhibition will run for one month before travelling to Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. According to Ambassador Poirier, the special items are also expected to be put on display in France.
Four famous films, including The Artist, The Intouchables, Beautiful Lies, and A Perfect Plan, will be screened free of charge at Alexandre Yersin Park as part of a nationwide mobile cinema programme that began on October 16.
The Vietnamese version of Plague and Cholera by Patrick Deville, the Prix Femina award winner for literature which recounts the life of Alexandre Yersin, will have a launch party at Book Café on December 11. The writer will be in Da Lat to hold exchanges with readers and students, said Ambassador Poirier.
Another exhibition of colour photos by Sebastien Laval depicting nights in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat will open at the BigC supermarket on December 12, helping visitors discover the cities in a special light.
The week will end with a 90-minute concert in the square outside Hoa Binh Theatre featuring performances by Vietnamese and French artists and a roundtable about French language.
