French town to hold Vietnam Month
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From May 5, a month-long cultural program featuring Vietnam-themed cultural, academic, and performance activities will be held in Lorient, a small town situated northwest of France’s Brittany coast.
The town has had a long tradition of medical cooperation and exchange with Vietnam, pioneered by the medical nongovernmental organization APPEL which has operated in the country since 1968.
“For years, we have helped provide training for Vietnamese medical staff and run different community development projects in Vietnam, such as a clean water program in Khanh Hoa and Kien Giang province,” pediatric doctor Gildas Tréguier, head of the APPEL branch in Lorient said.
“Now we want to widen the scope to include cultural, historical and social exchanges activities and introduce more about Vietnam to the French people,” he added.
During the event, an academic conference centering on children, named L’enfant, ici et là-bas (Children, here and there) will be chaired by APPEL to discuss child education, health and development issues in Vietnam.
More than 120 ao dai designs by three Vietnamese famous fashion designers, Minh Hanh, Trong Nguyen and Viet Lien will also be featured at the festival.
To be held at Lorient’s Grand Palace square and Gabriel hotel, the ao dai fashion show will introduce Minh Hanh’s deep color pieces adorned by handcrafted details.
Trong Nguyen’s patterns drew inspiration from the phoenix while Viet Lien use color blocks with traditional embroideries on Vietnam’s traditional wear.
The Month of Vietnam will be held until May 29.
