The festival held in Paris on June 28–29, was part of the France–Vietnam cultural exchange initiative Toucher Arts, placing young people at the heart of cultural promotion and empowering them to reinterpret and share Vietnamese heritage through their own lens.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang and Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador to France Anoa Suzanne Dussol Perran attended the event.

The event spanned three floors of exhibition and activity space. On the ground level, two art exhibitions were held: Vibrant Vietnam, featuring selected works from over 1,000 paintings submitted by Vietnamese youth from 17 countries; and A Journey through Vietnam, presented by students of Olympia Schools in Hanoi. Each painting offered a cultural perspective told through youthful, global eyes.

The second floor featured hands-on traditional crafts, all offered free of charge, from Dong Ho painting and bamboo dragonflies to paper fan decoration and calligraphy. “We brought Trang Son paper fans directly from Vietnam so French visitors could touch and feel traditional Vietnamese materials,” said Hoang Thu Trang, Chair of ART SPACE and Festival Director.

A standout feature on the top floor was the Flavours of Hanoi photo collection, enhanced by augmented reality (AR). Visitors could scan photos with their phones to watch videos on how iconic Vietnamese dishes are prepared and enjoyed. Alongside this were over 10 food stalls offering specialties such as such as bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles), banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls with minced pork and mushrooms), and che dua dam (sweet coconut milk dessert with crushed ice and jelly), creating a sensory-rich “mini Vietnam” in the heart of Paris.

The soul of the festival lay in its two contrasting evening performances. On June 28, Vibrant Vietnam highlighted contemporary, youthful expression with performances such as Trong com, A journey through Vietnam, and Invitation to the Northwest, culminating in Bac Bling- a bold fusion of modern hip-hop and traditional Northern Vietnamese culture. On June 29, A journey through Vietnam embraced tradition, featuring the Olympia School choir from Hanoi and the Choeur Tim children’s choir from Versailles, who performed folk songs using bamboo instruments.

The enthusiasm of the young participants was the driving force behind the event. Minh Trang, a student from Olympia, said, “I was really happy and proud to complete my tasks well. I also had the chance to meet people who share the same love for Vietnam and see how our culture is appreciated in a faraway country.”

Kevin Nguyen, a French-Vietnamese participant, said his involvement over the past three years stemmed from a desire to introduce Vietnamese culture to his international friends. Choeur Tim member Hugo Picart shared, “This programme helped us learn about another culture, Vietnam, through music and language.”

According to Ngo Huong Giang, Artistic Director of Choeur Tim, “Vietnam has found a place in the hearts of our young singers. Although they haven’t visited the country, events like this give them an emotional and cultural journey.”

The French public warmly embraced the event. “All the tickets were booked within 48 hours of our announcement,” said Hoang Thu Trang. French attendee Godefroy Picart commented, “It was a wonderful show, both musically and visually. A chance for us to discover Vietnamese art, music, and dance.”

Tran Hoai Anh, a French lecturer from Vietnam National University, Hanoi, hailed the festival as a meaningful activity that not only helps young Vietnamese understand French culture but also enables them to promote their own culture to international friends.

Tang Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Cultural Centre in France, expressed strong support for such events, “The Centre will continue to facilitate youth-led cultural programmes, helping promote Vietnamese culture through the voices of young people from around the world.”

Bonjour Vietnam 2025 is part of the long-term Toucher Arts strategy. Following its Paris debut, the project will head to Lorient for a 20-day cultural festival expected to attract thousands of French visitors. Earlier, the young participants also brought Vietnam’s image to the city of Saint Herblain in the Loire-Atlantique region.

“We’ll continue to share and promote Vietnamese culture in fresh ways, through the perspectives of young people,” said Hoang Thu Trang. “Culture isn’t just something preserved in the past. It’s something lived and shared in the present.”

By spotlighting young Vietnamese voices worldwide, Bonjour Vietnam 2025 has created a new model for cultural diplomacy, where youth are not just beneficiaries but active contributors, bridging tradition and modernity, Vietnam and the world. In the age of globalisation, this offers a sustainable way to keep cultural heritage alive and thriving.

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