The fourth Vietnam Festival takes place vibrantly in Lorient City
WVR - From June 16-19, the Fourth Vietnam Festival was organized in Lorient City (Brittany region, France) in collaboration with the associations ART SPACE, Vietnam Bretagne Sud, and Appel Lorient.
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The event is part of the activities commemorating the 360th anniversary of Lorient City, while also enhancing cultural exchange and friendship between Vietnam and France through art, cinema, education, and community activities.
More than 50 young Vietnamese, Vietnamese-origin students, and artists from various countries participated in organizing and performing at the festival.
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| The performance "Bong bong bang bang" at the main hall of Bretagne Sud Hospital attracted many spectators. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Mr. Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient City, stated: “The Vietnam Festival is not only an opportunity for the Lorient 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 contributes to enriching the cultural life of the city and strengthening the friendship between France and Vietnam.”
Bringing Vietnamese culture to schools, hospitals, and local communities
During the festival, various cultural exchange and experience activities were organized at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities for the disabled in Lorient City.
Ms. Sophie Lespex, an education specialist at the L'IME Disability Center (Lanester), shared: “The children were very excited, which was clearly visible on their faces.
We observed and saw that they genuinely enjoyed these activities. We believe they will talk about and share this experience for a long time.”
From French students to the elderly, everyone had the opportunity to explore Vietnamese culture through lion dances, folk games, and familiar fairy tales retold in the form of paper puppet theater.
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| The workshop exploring traditional crafts like Chang Son fans and bamboo trays captivated the elderly. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Additionally, workshops on traditional cultural experiences such as making paper fans, decorating bamboo trays, and exploring Vietnamese music also received widespread participation.
The highlight of the program was the Vietnamese costume parade at 5 PM on June 19 at the square in front of the Lorient Opera House.
More than 50 young Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin individuals from various countries showcased the beauty of traditional Vietnamese costumes through different historical periods, offering the French public a chance to explore a rich and vibrant cultural heritage.
A genuine, creative, and richly cultural Vietnam
Alongside community cultural activities, the Viet Culture in Motion International Short Documentary Film Festival took place at Cinéville Lorient on June 16, 17, and 18, showcasing short documentaries about Vietnamese culture created by young filmmakers in Vietnam and the Vietnamese community worldwide.
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.
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| Mayor of Lorient City, Mr. Fabrice Loher (second from left), attended the first screening of the Viet Culture in Motion Film Festival in Lorient. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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 international audiences.
Ms. Thuy Kernen, President of the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association, representing the Organizing Committee, shared: “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, richly cultural, and vibrant Vietnam always have the power to touch hearts.”
Some highlights from the event:
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| Vietnamese and French students at Bois Bissonnet Lorient School joined in singing "We are the world". (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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| French people eagerly explore Vietnamese culture. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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| Vietnamese melodies enliven the atmosphere at the Kerpape Children's Disability Support Center. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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| The Vietnamese costume parade in front of Lorient City Hall left a lasting impression on the French audience. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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