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According to Vietnamese News Agency correspondents in France, the Consular Festival 2024 took place on June 15 and 16 in Bellecour Square in Lyon, France's third largest city. This year's festival saw Vietnam impress visitors with its traditional ao dai and tourism products.

The red flag with a yellow star flutters in the sunshine and Vietnam's space is decorated with Hoi An lanterns, Dong Ho folk paintings, large-scale images of the country's scenic sites, brochures promoting Vietnam tourism, and publications highlighting Vietnamese culture.

Representatives of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France presents a Dong Ho folk painting to Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet. (Photo: VNA)

This year, with the theme "Bonjour Vietnam!," Vietnam's space has attracted a large number of visitors who want to learn about travel, discover the country's landscape through films and photos, admire Dong Ho folk paintings, and learn how to play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as the Vietnamese monochord (đàn bầu) and the T'rung.

According to Meritorious Artist Tang Thanh Son, Deputy Director in Charge of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France, unlike in previous years, this year the Center collaborated with the Vietnamese Association in Lyon to focus on introducing tourism potential and promoting Vietnamese culture through publications and leaflets introducing tours and travel routes in Vietnam. Many tourists, particularly young ones, are drawn to the Quang Binh tourist route, which now includes new tours of the Son Doong cave.

Attendee of the event can learn how to play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as the Vietnamese monochord (đàn bầu). (Photo: VNA)

Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet became fascinated by Dong Ho's stunning paintings while visiting Vietnam Space. He also noticed that the Vietnamese Space is constantly changing and introducing new ways of conveying the image of the country, people, and culture of Vietnam.

He expressed his interest in Vietnam's scenery, particularly the Son Doong cave chain in Quang Binh province, and stated that if given the opportunity, he would visit Vietnam and explore the country's caverns.

Vietnam contributed to the festival's mission of displaying countries' uniqueness on the main stage by exhibiting a unique art performance to French and international audiences, featuring elegant, flowing ao dai of Vietnamese women, and also fascinating bamboo dancing by ethnic people.

Vietnam contributes to the festival's mission of displaying countries' uniqueness. (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Minh Hanh, a member of the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in France (ABVietFrance), looked charming in a traditional ao dai, attracted other participants' interest, and prompted them to take photos.

She stated that, compared to traditional costumes from other countries, Vietnamese ao dai is quite simple to wear, therefore it may be worn not only during Tet but also on other occasions. She remarked that when ao dai gains popularity in France, the Vietnamese people's pride will rise.

Tissot Chantal from Lyon highlighted his interest in Vietnamese ao dai because it is "traditional but still very modern, modest but extremely attractive".

"Vietnamese ao dai reminds me of the film 'Indochine', which makes me want to visit Vietnam. "I have never been to Vietnam, but I believe Vietnam and France have a good traditional relationship," said Tissot Chantal.

Guy Prizet, a French resident, said he has visited Vietnam since 1999 and was fascinated by the culture. He also mentioned Vietnam's scenic places, including Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Being amazed by the customs of the northern ethnic minorities, enjoying the water puppets, and watching the Hue female students in ao dai left him with wonderful, lasting memories of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Space is constantly changing and introducing new ways of conveying the image of the country, people, and culture of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

The Consular Festival, which has been organized for over 20 years in collaboration with consular agencies and friendship associations with local foreign communities, is a well-known annual event that honors the friendship and international solidarity of Lyon while promoting the cultural diversity and dynamism of its consulates and foreign communities.

This year's theme was "Crafts and Secrets," attracting the participation of over 50 countries and territories. Visitors to the Consular Festival 2024 will not only enjoy a festive atmosphere, but they will also be able to learn and experience many crafts and secrets from around the world, such as pottery making, painting, and performances of traditional musical instruments, as well as be introduced to traditional costumes and products.

To encourage tourists to visit and connect with the consulates and associations present, each visitor has been given a passport, and the person with the most visa stamps from each nation will be rewarded by the organizing committee.

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