Spreading Vietnamese Culture in Northwestern France
WVR - From June 16-19, the authorities of the port city of Lorient in the Bretagne region of Northwestern France, in collaboration with the associations ART SPACE, Vietnam Bretagne Sud, and Appel Lorient, organized the 4th Vietnam Festival. The event saw the participation of over 50 Vietnamese youths, students, and young artists from various countries.
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| The French public is captivated by exploring Vietnamese culture. (Source: VNA) |
The Vietnam Festival is part of a series of activities commemorating the 360th anniversary of the founding of Lorient. It also aims to enhance cultural exchange and friendship between Vietnam and France through arts, cinema, education, and community activities within the festival framework.
Mr. Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient, stated that this event is not only an opportunity for the public to discover the beauty of Vietnamese culture but also a chance to enhance understanding, dialogue, and connection between communities. Through art, cinema, and activities rich in humanity, the festival enriches the cultural life of the city and strengthens Franco-Vietnamese friendship.
Throughout the festival, numerous cultural exchange and experience activities were organized at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities for people with disabilities in Lorient.
Ms. Sophie Lespex, an education specialist at the L'IME Disability Center (Lanester), shared: “The children were very excited, which was evident on their faces. We observed and saw that they truly enjoyed these activities. We believe they will continue to talk about and share this experience for a long time.”
From French students to the elderly, everyone had the chance to explore Vietnamese culture through lion dances, traditional games, and familiar folktales retold in the form of paper puppet theater. Additionally, workshops on traditional cultural experiences such as making paper fans, decorating bamboo trays, or exploring Vietnamese music received widespread participation.
On the afternoon of June 19, the highlight of the program was the Viet Phuc parade held at the square in front of the Lorient Grand Theater. Over 50 young Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin individuals from various countries showcased the beauty of traditional Vietnamese attire through different historical periods, offering the French public a chance to explore a vibrant and rich cultural heritage.
Alongside community cultural activities, the international short documentary festival Viet Culture in Motion took place at Cinéville Lorient from June 16-18, featuring short documentaries about Vietnamese culture created by young filmmakers in Vietnam and the global Vietnamese community. From traditional crafts, family memories, the lives of ethnic minority communities to simple slices of everyday life, each film offers a unique perspective on a dynamic Vietnam.
Part of a European film screening program with a total of 14 screenings in Paris, Lorient, Prague, and Brussels from June 11 to July 5. The stop in Lorient is one of the key destinations in the journey to bring Vietnamese cultural stories to an international audience.
Ms. Thuy Kernen, President of the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association, affirmed: “When Vietnamese culture can reach children in schools, the elderly in nursing homes, or those in need of care in hospitals and disability support centers, we believe that culture has truly become a bridge of connection.
The reception from the French public over the past four years shows that stories of a youthful, vibrant, and rich Vietnam always have the power to touch people's hearts.”
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