Vietnam-France: Meaningful Exchanges At Local Level
The work of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association cements the people-to-people relations of the two countries.
Students participate in the 2023 French Language Festival in Hai Phong (Photo: haiphong.gov.vn)
Connecting via language channel
According to Do Van Loi, vice chairman of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Hai Phong cit, Hai Phong always attaches great importance to building and developing relations with French partners. For many years, the city has focused on implementing the French language teaching program.
Currently, the city has 740 students studying bilingual French programs from elementary to high school, French students of Tran Phu High School for the Gifted, students of Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
The generations of bilingual French students and students of specialized French classes of Hai Phong have gained many achievements in the fields of economy, culture, society at home and abroad.
Many students won prizes in national competitions for excellent students in French (in 2023, 7 students won prizes, including 2 students who won the first prize). Many high school graduates have gone to study in France.
On the opposite side of the nation, in Can Tho, the annual Francophone festival has become an event of people speaking French in Vietnam.
During the festival, guests can exchange culture and arts in French; attend seminars on teaching in French, exhibitions.
The festival honors and encourages the development of the French language teaching and learning movement; at the same time promotes Francophone cooperation in the Mekong Delta region; strengthens solidarity and friendship in culture and education, contributing to the comprehensive cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and countries in the Francophone community.
 |
| Armelle Warney, the wife of the French Ambassador to Vietnam presents prizes to the winners of the "Competition to learn about diplomatic relations and cooperation between Vietnam and France" in Da Nang (Photo: danang.gov.vn) |
In Da Nang, Francophone cultural exchanges have also been implemented by the Vietnam-France Friendship Association, the Da Nang City Union of Friendship Organizations, the French Embassy in Vietnam with activities such as: Francophone football tournament, Francophone singing festival, competition to learn about diplomatic relations and cooperation between Vietnam and France, painting contest, Ring the golden bell.
According to the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Da Nang city, in June 2023 the association will coordinate with the Union of Friendship Organizations of the city, the French Embassy in Vietnam, the French Institute in Da Nang to organize the Francophone Singing Festival in 2023 and the Gala Night of music exchange between French and Vietnamese artists.
From April 13-16, the 12th Vietnam-France decentralization conference will take place in Hanoi with the participation of 50 Vietnamese localities and 12 French localities. The Chairman of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Hanoi is a member of the conference's Organizing Committee.
More than 800 delegates from Vietnam and France will exchange and discuss around four seminars on sustainable cities; environment, and water treatment; culture, heritage and tourism; smart city and digitization.
Many activities were also organized to tighten the solidarity and exchange between localities and partners of the two countries such as, Vietnam-France Economic Forum; the Festival "Balade en France" exhibitions, and seminars on culture and heritage.
The Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Hanoi has a booth at the exhibition, which introduces the activities of the Association, the French Embassy in Vietnam and French partners.
In addition, branches of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Hanoi will contribute cultural performances, French folk games, introduce commercial products of Vietnam and France at this festival.
The association also plans to organize a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France such as: friendly sports tournaments (soccer, tennis, golf) with the French Embassy; Vietnamese-French Festival; photo exhibition and Vietnamese-French food festival; meet people who have studied and worked in France, units and individuals that have cooperation relations with France.
In 2023, the Association plans to translate and publish a collection of Vietnamese-French bilingual short stories including 3 Vietnamese short stories and 3 typical French short stories of the year. The Association plans to organize screenings and exchanges about the film "Indochina" with students of schools and faculties that teach French; hold activities to connect Vietnam - France trade.
Q.Hoa t.h /Vietnamtimes
