Organised by Lorient City Hall in collaboration with the Art Space Association, the Viet Nam Bretagne Sud Association, and the Appel Lorient Association, the 2025 edition of the Viet Nam Festival presented a vibrant line-up of events.
These included documentary screenings, folk and contemporary artistic performances, cultural outreach to care homes, and a grand city-centre parade showcasing traditional Vietnamese attire.
The festival formed part of the Toucher Arts international cultural exchange initiative, run by the Art Space Association. To date, the project has brought together over 100 Vietnamese and Vietnamese-descended students, aged 13 to 17, from 14 countries.
Honouring Vietnamese attire and cultural heritage
As part of the festivities, over 100 international students joined Vietnamese residents in France and French friends for an Ao Dai parade at Place Glotin. The procession featured elegant costumes from the Ly, Tran, and Nguyen dynasties, alongside the five-panel Ao Dai and its modernised variants.
The parade aimed to bridge historical tradition and contemporary relevance while showcasing the diversity of Vietnamese clothing to French spectators. It also sought to elevate the Ao Dai's status globally and bolster efforts for its recognition as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
A seminar titled ‘Stories of Ao Dai: Heritage and Cultural Identity’ was also organised on this occasion, offering a more in-depth exploration of Viet Nam’s traditional costume.
Attendees were introduced to garments from various historical eras, including those of the Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties. The event drew a substantial French audience, many of whom expressed genuine admiration for the Ao Dai and its cultural significance.
Showcasing a youthful and dynamic Viet Nam
At the National Conference Centre in Lorient, the 'Brilliant Viet Nam' art exhibition made a powerful impact with 150 selected works from more than 1,000 submissions by children in 17 countries. The artworks celebrated Vietnamese cultural heritage and identity.
Meanwhile, free traditional craft workshops saw enthusiastic participation from the French public.
Another standout attraction was the photo series Delicacies of Ha Noi by France-based photographer Thao Nguyen. Enhanced by augmented reality (AR) technology, the exhibition allowed visitors to experience Ha Noi’s cuisine through animated visuals, sounds, and lifelike simulations.
The venue also hosted food stalls representing northern, central, and southern Viet Nam—recreating the lively ambience of a Vietnamese street scene at the heart of Europe.
The third edition of the Viet Nam Festival successfully brought Vietnamese culture closer to French audiences of all ages, with engaging activities ranging from mini-concerts and traditional craft sessions to interactive workshops for elderly care home residents.
A spectacular show titled ‘Brilliant Viet Nam’, held at the Plateau de Quatre Vents Theatre, featured more than 50 professional and amateur artists. The performance fused traditional folk elements with a contemporary flair, delighting the audience.
Standout acts included bamboo and reed instrument performances by artists from the Viet Nam Cultural Centre in Paris, which left a strong impression on international attendees.
Benoit and Isabelle Couteau, a retired couple from Monnière, praised the show for its vibrancy, energy and youthful spirit.
Mayor Fabrice Loher also applauded the organisers for promoting the richness of Vietnamese culture to the local community, affirming the enduring importance of Franco-Vietnamese relations.
Chloé Kernen, President of the Viet Nam Bretagne Sud Association and a member of the organising committee, noted with satisfaction that the festival drew thousands from Lorient and neighbouring towns, spanning all age groups.
“We hope to present Vietnamese culture to the French public in a youthful and inspiring way, especially within the Brittany region,” she said.
Over its three editions, the Viet Nam Festival has emerged as a compelling platform for cultural diplomacy. With passion and creativity, young Vietnamese and Vietnamese-descended participants continue to breathe life into their heritage and share it with the world.
