The event, the first of its kind, is organised within the framework of the Toucher Arts project and Vietnamese Month in Larmor-Plage, which are co-hosted by the city’s authorities, the ART SPACE, Vietnam Bretagne Sud, and APPEL Lorient Associations.
The festival has attracted thousands of city dwellers, who come to explore the land, people and culture of Vietnam.
It also draws the participation of 25 Vietnamese students aged from 12 to 20, who are studying in the US, UK, Australia, and Vietnam.
The festival goers can join various activities, such as workshops on decorating bamboo trays, making Dong Ho folk paintings on Do (Poonah) paper, and trying Vietnamese calligraphy.
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| The festival-goers have an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of traditional Vietnamese culture through various activities |
They also have an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of traditional Vietnamese festivals and culture and receive interesting gifts such as lucky money, bamboo dragonflies, and small drums.
In addition, they can taste signature Vietnamese street dishes such as ‘banh mi’, ‘xoi’ (sticky rice), spring rolls, sweet soup, and milk tea.
An exhibition displaying paintings by Overseas Vietnamese children, who are living in 20 countries worldwide, and a photo exhibition highlighting the poetic beauty of Vietnam’s Hoi An ancient city, are also being held on the occasion.
At the festival, more than 100 international students joined Vietnamese and French participants dressed in Vietnamese traditional costumes and Ao Dai, to recreate a Vietnamese wedding ceremony and the celebration of the Lunar New Year festival.
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| Members of the the campaign "2LIFE Ao Dai" |
Notably, every French participant in the festival is presented with a Vietnamese Ao Dai. This is the result of the campaign "2LIFE Ao Dai" (Second Life Ao Dai), which aims to bring a new life to second-hand Ao Dai. The used Ao Dai was donated by the Vietnamese community in the US, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
In return, the Ao Dai recipients are expected to make an arbitrary donation to support orphanages and children with disabilities in Vietnam.
A concert entitled ‘Touch Arts - The Traditions and Legends of Vietnam’ was staged on the evening of July 1, bringing together more than 50 amateur and professional artists.
The artists delivered performances of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, as well as songs and dances imbued with both folklore and contemporary Vietnamese culture.
The festival helps to tighten the cultural connection and exchange between the two countries, as well as promote the beautiful image of Vietnam to French friends.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang
“We are delighted and proud to provide Larmor-Plage people with an opportunity to discover the diverse and rich culture of Vietnam, especially on the occasion when France and Vietnam are celebrating their 50 years of diplomatic relations,” said Larmor-Plage Mayor Patrice Valton.
For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said he was touched to see Vietnamese culture being widely spread and warmly received by the French people.
He hailed the three associations ART SPACE, Vietnam Bretagne Sud and APPEL Lorient for organising the festival, which helps to tighten the cultural connection and exchange between the two countries, as well as promote the beautiful image of Vietnam to French friends.
Meanwhile, Hoang Thu Trang, President of the ART SPACE Association, Head of the festival’s organising board shared, that the festival is not only designed as an event marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France, but also an event of international solidarity.
