Vietnam Celebrates International Francophone Festival in Da Nang

France Institute in Da Nang City

International Francophone Festival in Da Nang on the occasion of International Francophonie Day was held over the weekend of 19-20 March 2022. Before the 19th, the French Institute in Da Nang in collaboration with the Union of Friendship Organizations of Danang City, the Faculty of French of the University of Foreign Languages - UD, and the Danang French Club organized many events to welcome international and local friends to join the festical.

The activities include: a Photo contest. Taking place from March 12 to March 18, 2022; a Football League. Taking place on March 19, 2022 at Tuyen Son Sports Palace

On March 20, 2022 at the University of Foreign Languages in Da Nang city, the festival was in full swing with Food stall, Ring the Golden Bell challenge, Painting contest, etc.

Photo: Da Nang

On the same day, the closing ceremony of the International Francophone Festival in Da Nang was held. In his closing remark, Samuel Delameziere, Director of the French Institute in Da Nang under the Embassy of the French Republic in Vietnam, said to the young Vietnamese generation:

"This year's theme is "Future", which includes future through digital development, enterprise development and environment. The future that you are building today in Da Nang, together with teachers, representatives of universities and high schools in the area, partners in the fields of culture, education, and politics of the city. We welcome the future. Because you are the future and we all want you to use the French language to build your future.It will accompany you for the rest of your life in Vietnam or anywhere else. Congrats to the celebration today, participate in the activities and especially congrats the winners. We are absolutely proud of you,".

Member of the Standing Committee of the Presidium representing Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the President of Union of Friendship Organizations in Da Nang city, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 2022 Francophone exchange festival Nguyen Ngoc Binh also addressed the importance of this year's event:

"In Da Nang city, friendly relations and cooperation with French localities are constantly being strengthened and developed in many fields. The efforts of the French Institute at Da Nang, over 27 years of establishment and operation, has contributed to the relationship between the people of Da Nang city and the French people; between agencies, departments, city branches with French agencies and localities in particular. Today, the French Institute in Da Nang is considered as a center of French language and culture in the city with many rich and practical activities,".

Local French people explore Vietnamese culture

On this special occasion, the Vietnam Cultural Center in France represented Vietnam to participate in the 2022 Francophonie Weekend, which was held in the village of Yèbles, in the province of Seine et Marne, 60km from Paris.

As a visitor of the village of YèblesAmandine Chouana - a young Frenchwoman of Laotian descent, shared: "The Vietnam pavilion is beautifully presented and attractive with pictures, colorful decorative paper. I like Vietnamese hats and lanterns. The event makes me want to visit your country again."

According to Nghiem Xuan Dong - Director of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France, the Francophonie Weekend 2022 is an initiative of Yebles village to respond to the International Francophonie Day and has been maintained since 7 years.

The Vietnamese Cultural Center in France always proactively participates in this event and leaves a lot of impressions on the Organizing Committee and the French community. He also said that Vietnam will be the guest of honor for the fifth season, scheduled to be held in 2024.

Vietnamese Representatives in Ao Dai at the festival. Photo: Vietnamplus

Dong shared the plan of Vietnamese Cultural Center in France, stating that: "We will bring cultural, sports and tourism activities, to introduce to a large number of countries the Francophone community to help them better understand the country and people of Vietnam."

Vietnamese Representatives show diverse, colorful culture at the festival. Photo: Vietnamplus

Held every two years since 2015, the Francophonie Weekend is an opportunity for the people of the small town of Yèbles to exchange and learn about the cultural diversity of Francophone countries.

This is also an opportunity for member countries to introduce to the local public Vietnamese diverse traditional culture through music, cuisine, literature or folk games, as well as enhance mutual understanding through discussions on social and civic topics in Francophone countries.

At the 2022 Francophone Weekend, there were nearly 40 pavilions representing many Francophone countries and localities, from African countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, to countries Asia such as Laos, Vietnam, from European countries such as Moldova, France, or from North America such as the Quebec region of Canada.

According to Marième Tamata Varin - Mayor of Yèbles village, after a year delay due to the epidemic, the Francophonie Weekend was held with the participation of 35 embassies, organizations and member associations of the Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).

Visitors at the Vietnamese booth. Photo: Bao Quoc Te

She stressed: "The village of Yebles is proud to be a place for the Francophone community from many countries to introduce their culture and strengthen solidarity between the nations. This will be an opportunity to unite the entire community, strengthen friendship and create a real bond between peoples for the sake of peace on the territory of France".

Mayor Marième Tamata Varin also highly appreciated Vietnam's active participation in these events. She emphasized, it is the positive and unique features of Vietnamese culture that the organizers have invited Vietnam to return as guest of honor for the 5th season to be held in 2024.

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