On May 30 and 31, the Montreuil exhibition center in Paris became a meeting point for thousands of Asian culture enthusiasts, as it hosted for the first time the Asian Pop Culture Festival (APCF) – the largest Asian pop culture festival ever organized in Paris.
In this dynamic setting, the Vietnamese delegation made a strong impression thanks to activities promoting culture, cuisine, agricultural products, traditional ao dai costume and sepak takraw (foot volleyball).
This is the first time that Vietnam participates in this festival with around ten stalls, including six food stalls and numerous spaces presenting national culture.
Ms. Dang Giang, President of Amicale Francophonie – Franco-Vietnamese Friendship Association, said the APCF is an opportunity for the Vietnamese community in France to interact, learn and present the image of their country to their international friends.
Despite hasty preparations, thanks to the combined efforts of many community associations, businesses and individuals, the Vietnamese region offered visitors a vibrant glimpse of its national culture. From traditional dishes to Vietnamese coffee, ao dai (traditional clothing) and unique agricultural products, everything contributed to presenting a Vietnam rich in identity and full of vitality.
The lively atmosphere of the Vietnamese food court attracted a large number of visitors during the two days of the festival.
Ms. Nguyen Quynh Phuong, representative of the Vietnam-France Market association, explained that the festival creates a space for multi-ethnic and multinational exchanges, allowing the public to better understand the traditions and identities of Asian people.
In addition to traditional dishes, many Vietnamese agricultural products also aroused keen interest among visitors.
Ms. Cu Thu Huong, owner of a stall specializing in the distribution of Vietnamese agricultural products in France, said that many Vietnamese fruits, such as mangoes, green pomelo, lychees, sapodilla and passion fruit, are very popular with French consumers. The main current challenge lies in conservation and transport after harvest.
One of the highlights of the Vietnamese space was the presentation of sepak takraw (foot volleyball). The technical demonstrations and practical workshops aroused keen interest among visitors. Étienne Gastineau, player for the French sepak takraw team, said the festival was an excellent opportunity to promote the sport to the French public.
In addition to the presentation of sports and gastronomy, the Vietnamese delegation also highlighted the beauty of its traditions during the festival, notably through ao dai (traditional Vietnamese costumes) and artistic performances. On the stand of the cultural and charitable association L’Occitane Humanité, hundreds of ao dai were on display, attracting the attention of many visitors.
The artistic performances of the Vietnamese delegation also greatly impressed the public. Mr. Hai Vanna Nguyen Phuoc said the artists chose costumes recreating the images of King Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co to present the history of the origins of the Vietnamese people to their international friends.
For their first participation in the Asian Pop Culture Festival, the Vietnamese representatives presented the image of a country rich in traditions, but also dynamic and open. The success of this first participation testifies not only to the cohesion of the Vietnamese community in France, but also opens many perspectives for a better dissemination of Vietnamese culture to the international public in the years to come.
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Source : https://www.vietnamplus.vn/van-hoa-viet-nam-toa-sang-tai-asian-pop-culture-festival-o-paris-post1113726.vnp
