Tet Ma Dao in Lorient bridges Vietnamese-French culture
WVR - Recently, nearly 1,000 French citizens, Vietnamese expatriates, and international friends gathered to celebrate the Tet Ma Dao event – the traditional Vietnamese New Year 2026 at the Palais des Congrès in Lorient, Morbihan, France.
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| Mr. Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient (in black), takes a commemorative photo with the organizers and guests of the program. (Source: BTC) |
The Tet event not only brought the warm spring atmosphere of Vietnam to France but also integrated into the series of activities celebrating the 360th anniversary of Lorient's founding, creating a unique cultural exchange between the two nations.
The program was organized by the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association in collaboration with the Lorient City Council, aiming to preserve the essence of Vietnamese Tet while spreading Vietnamese culture to the French public. The event was attended by Mr. Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient, along with City Council members.
Attracting over 100 artists and performers
The artistic program was marked by the participation of over 100 professional and amateur artists, French and Vietnamese volunteers, students, and young Vietnamese from various cities.
In addition to artists from the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association, notable participants included the A.M.T Youth Association from Rennes, ART SPACE from Nantes, artist Thanh Ngoc from the Vietnamese Cultural Center in Paris, and the Chœur Tim children's choir from Versailles, featuring 15 French and Vietnamese children born and raised in France, performing Vietnamese folk songs to the audience's delight.
Particularly, the Saxophone performance by Kevin Nguyen, a young French-Vietnamese, created a poignant highlight, showcasing the continuation and spread of Vietnamese cultural identity among the younger generation in France.
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| The event was an opportunity for French friends to explore and learn about Vietnamese culture. (Source: BTC) |
Cultural experience and honoring Vietnamese identity
Alongside the artistic performances, cultural experience activities were organized for the public to introduce traditional Vietnamese values.
The calligraphy booth, for instance, attracted a large number of participants. Attendees could try writing their names in Vietnamese calligraphy and learn about the meanings of phrases conveying messages of luck, happiness, and prosperity for the new year.
Additionally, martial arts performances by the Hung Long Traditional Martial Arts Club from Mordelles introduced the Vietnamese martial tradition to the local audience.
The highlight of the activities was the Ao Dai collection showcase by designer Bich Ha Sarah, celebrating the beauty of traditional Vietnamese attire and illustrating the cultural exchange between the two countries.
More than just a culinary or musical experience, the Tet Ma Dao 2026 event in Lorient was a cultural exchange space where locals could engage, learn, and connect more closely with Vietnamese customs, traditions, and culture. It also demonstrated the solidarity and homeland spirit of the Vietnamese community in Morbihan and across France.
Ms. Thuy Kernen, President of the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association and Head of the Organizing Committee, shared: “We have successfully organized the Tet festival celebrating the Year of the Horse 2026, with 1,000 guests, including both the French and Vietnamese communities. This is truly a memorable milestone and a great pride for us.
The event received a lot of positive feedback, and we are honored to have the opportunity to share, spread, and promote Vietnamese culture in Lorient. Moreover, it is a meaningful occasion to preserve and pass on Vietnamese cultural values to the Vietnamese generations living in France.”
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| The organizers take a photo with event attendees. |
“As the Mayor of Lorient, I am always delighted to witness cultural events like this being held annually. This year, Lorient celebrates its 360th anniversary with the theme 'Lorient – City of the World'.
This is an opportunity for us to honor the historical, friendly, economic, and cultural ties built with many international communities, including the Vietnamese community – a community that plays a special role in the city's history and life. Today's festival is indeed a tribute to the increasingly strong relationship between France and Vietnam,” expressed Mr. Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient.
Ms. Piasecki Jade from Quéven, a volunteer at the event, shared: “I was born in Vietnam and adopted at 4 months old, so I grew up in France from a very young age. I attended the Tet festival in Lorient to participate in showcasing traditional Vietnamese attire, especially the Ao Dai. When I stepped on stage in the Ao Dai, I was truly happy to show everyone the beauty of traditional Vietnamese clothing and contribute to spreading Vietnamese culture.”
Ms. Marie Louise, an audience member, shared: “I really enjoyed the dances, the traditional costumes, and the martial arts performances. All of these elements combined to create an overall picture of what Vietnam represents in our perception.”
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| The event was an opportunity for French friends to explore and learn about Vietnamese culture. (Source: BTC) |
The organization of the traditional Vietnamese Tet in Lorient not only holds cultural community significance but also strengthens the friendly relations between Vietnam and France at the local level.
In the year marking the 360th anniversary of Lorient's founding, the event has become a vivid testament to the role of cultural diplomacy in connecting communities, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing mutual understanding.
The support from the Lorient city government, along with the active participation of the Vietnamese community, has helped create a space for meeting and sharing cultural values, thereby affirming the role of expatriates as an important bridge in developing sustainable friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
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