VOV: How has your shop prepared for the upcoming Tet holiday to serve Vietnamese people in the locality?

Mr Duong: Like in previous years, we have some special foods and foodstuffs, including jam, confectionery, Vietnamese cakes, particularly chung cakes, in order to serve Vietnamese community. Some products are locally made and others imported from Vietnam. Among these item the most favoured are Vietnamese traditional foods.

VOV: Will you have any special activities during the Tet festival?

Mr Duong: Normally, during the Tet holiday, we open markets for Vietnamese people not only to buy products but also to enjoy the Tet atmosphere. Apart from providing foods and drinks, we organise a song and dance festival and ask all people to join. We also have dragon dances and magic performances to entertain Vietnamese people, particularly Vietnamese children, and to help them develop a deeper understanding of their homeland culture. Tet gives us a chance to help families enjoy the Tet atmosphere. For families whose children were born in France, Tet is a good occasion for them to learn about Vietnam’s traditional culture. More and more French people are now taking interest in Vietnamese Tet.

VOV: Do you often return to Vietnam? Have you found any changes in the country?

Mr Duong: I go back to Vietnam every quarter to purchase Vietnamese goods for sale in France. The last time I was in Vietnam was last December. I saw big changes in both rural and urban areas. There are a wide variety of products. Vietnamese products are gaining a competitive edge on the market. I think Vietnam is developing strongly. People’s living conditions are becoming more and more comfortable.

VOV: As you know, Vietnam has become the 150th member of the World Trade Organisation. What do you think of the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods?

Mr Duong: All business people are striving to change their working style to meet international standards. Vietnam exports products to other countries and also imports things from other countries. Enterprises try to improve the quality of their products to compete with foreign products in the domestic market as well as in the international market.

I think that the country’s technology standard is not high so enterprises have to gain experience from other countries in many other fields, not only trade. Enterprises should participate in fairs in Europe and America and consider it a chance to promote their products as well as gaining experience that could improve their products.

VOV: Thank you very much.