Promoting Vietnamese cultural identity at the Asian Pop Culture Festival in Paris
Participating in one of France’s largest Asian cultural festivals, the Vietnamese community introduced a vibrant and culturally rich showcase that highlighted Vietnam’s unique heritage and attracted a large number of international visitors.
On May 30 and 31, the Paris Montreuil Expo Exhibition Center became a gathering place for thousands of Asian culture enthusiasts as it hosted the inaugural Asian Pop Culture Festival (APCF), the largest Asian pop culture festival ever organized in Paris. Amid the vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, the Vietnamese delegation made a strong impression through activities promoting Vietnamese culture, cuisine, agricultural products, the traditional ao dai, and the sport of shuttlecock kicking (da cau).
This marked Vietnam’s first participation in the festival, featuring around 10 booths, including six dedicated to Vietnamese cuisine and several others showcasing the country's cultural heritage. According to Dang Giang, President of Amicale Francophonie – the Vietnamese Francophone Friendship Association, APCF provided an excellent opportunity for the Vietnamese community in France to connect, learn from others, and introduce Vietnam to international audiences.
Although preparations were carried out within a relatively short timeframe, the combined efforts of community associations, businesses, and individuals ensured that the Vietnamese section presented visitors with a vivid portrait of the nation's cultural identity. Traditional dishes, Vietnamese coffee, ao dai, and distinctive agricultural products all contributed to portraying a Vietnam that is both rich in heritage and full of vitality.
The bustling atmosphere at the Vietnamese food area attracted large numbers of visitors throughout the two-day festival. Ms. Nguyen Quynh Phuong, representing the Viet-France Market enterprise, noted that the event created a multicultural and multinational exchange space that helped the public gain a deeper understanding of the traditions and identities of Asian peoples.
In addition to traditional cuisine, Vietnamese agricultural products also attracted considerable attention. Ms. Cu Thu Huong, owner of a booth specializing in the distribution of Vietnamese agricultural products in France, said that many Vietnamese fruits, including mangoes, green-skinned pomelos, lychees, sapodillas, and passion fruit, are particularly popular among French consumers.
One of the most distinctive highlights of the Vietnamese pavilion was the area dedicated to da cau (shuttlecock kicking), a traditional Vietnamese sport. Technical demonstrations and hands-on experience sessions sparked the curiosity of many visitors. Etienne Gastineau, a member of the French national shuttlecock team, said the festival provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the sport to the French public.
In addition to showcasing sports and cuisine, the Vietnamese delegation brought traditional cultural beauty to the festival through the ao dai and artistic performances. At the booth of the L’Occitane Humanité Cultural and Charity Association, hundreds of ao dai were displayed, drawing significant attention from visitors. Performances by the Vietnamese delegation also left a strong impression on audiences.
Mr. Hai Vanna Nguyen Phuoc explained that the performers chose costumes representing King Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co to share the story of the origins of the Vietnamese people with international visitors. Through these symbolic figures, the delegation sought to introduce one of Vietnam’s most cherished legends and highlight the nation’s cultural heritage.
The success of Vietnam’s first participation in the festival not only demonstrated the solidarity and dynamism of the Vietnamese community in France but also opened up new opportunities for Vietnamese culture to be promoted more broadly to international audiences in the years ahead.
Hai Phong News