Vietnamese culture shines at 2025 Embassy Festival
Amid music and graceful dances, international audiences glimpsed a Vietnam that is both strong and gentle, traditional yet modern - an image that stirred emotions and inspired curiosity about the S-shaped country.
Đỗ Thị Thu Hiền
Visitors line up to enjoy "Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) at the festival. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –ꦆ Vietnam left a strong impression at the Embassy Festival in The Hague of the Netherlands on September 6, where art and fashion performances by the Vietnamese community showcased a nation that is both traditional and modern, graceful yet powerful.
The annual Embassy Festival drew tens of thousands worldwide to celebrate cultural diversity. Its 13th edition, featuring nearly 50 embassies under the theme “Honouring unity, heritage and cultural diversity,” underscored culture’s power to connect people, foster harmony, and open doors to understanding.
Embassies showcased food, crafts, and performances that turned the historic Lange Voorhout into a lively “global village,” where melodies, colours, and flavours from around the world blended in the joy of cultural exchange.
Amid music and graceful dances, international audiences glimpsed a Vietnam that is both strong and gentle, traditional yet modern - an image that stirred emotions and inspired curiosity about the S-shaped country.
The performances not only showcased artistic beauty but also stirred deep emotions within the Vietnamese community abroad.
Ngo Thi Bich Ngoc, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in the Netherlands, emphasised that art is a bridge connecting Vietnam with the world, and a bond linking the community and generations, nurturing love for the homeland among the youth.
If the stage showcased Vietnam’s pride, the food stalls brought the homeland’s flavours to international friends. The Vietnamese Trade Office’s booth featured specialties such as fruits and coffee, which all imported via Rotterdam and distributed across Europe, affirming Vietnamese products' growing place in the global market.
The Vietnamese community’s strong presence at the event highlighted their commitment to preserving and promoting national cultural identity abroad. They shared the story of a resilient, proud, and diverse nation - one that integrates without losing its roots, stepping confidently onto the path of globalisation.
The Hague - renowned for its international institutions dedicated to peace, justice, and fairness - is an ideal setting for Vietnam to connect with the world. At this year’s festival, Vietnam truly shone, not only through its cultural colours but also through its spirit, aspirations, and national pride./.
The Honouring the Vietnamese Language contest is not only a language event but also a manifestation of the Vietnamese community’s love for their homeland and cultural roots.
The image of women in flowing “ao dai” and children in colourful traditional costumes conveyed a powerful message of a culturally rich, friendly and open Vietnam.
The trend of infusing folk culture and traditional arts into contemporary music is not only thriving in Vietnam but is also gaining ground internationally.
On the evening of September 15 (local time), Algerian audiences enjoyed the Vietnamese film “Dao, Pho va Piano” (Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano). Vietnam was invited as the guest of honour at this year’s festival. In addition to the feature film, the country also introduced the documentary “Dien Bien: Land and People” and another featuring the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Victory for competition at the event.
Divided into three chapters with dozens of meticulously staged performances, the programme created a vibrant and emotionally rich atmosphere. The blend of tradition and modernity, powerful voices, and the solemn resonance of the symphony orchestra gave the show its distinctive hallmark.
The photo collection, which features typical landmarks and landscapes as well as the culture and lifestyle of Da Nang people, aims to introduce the image of Vietnam's central city to Korean friends.
Held on September 13-14, ManiFiesta – the annual festival of solidarity organised by the Workers' Party of Belgium – drew tens of thousands of participants from across Belgium and neighbouring countries. Alongside music, debates and cultural exchanges, Vietnam made a strong impression with a booth rich in national identity.
Vietnam’s top female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh, ranked 18th in the world, was unable to defend her title after losing 0-2 to Cai Yan Yan of China (world No. 107) in the women’s singles final of Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open 2025.
At Nhan Dan’s pavilion, visitors encountered a vivid chronicle of Vietnam’s milestones under the Communist Party of Vietnam and the late President Ho Chi Minh’s leadership, from the struggle for independence and reunification to modern development and global integration. Special publications marking Vietnam’s 80th National Day, coupled with performances by Vietnamese artists, intricate handicrafts, and fragrant dishes, had foreign visitors lining up in droves.
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc will be among 23 artists from 23 countries participating in Intervision 2025, an international music competition often described as the “Eurovision of Eurasia", in Russia.
The event aims to promote solidarity among ethnic minorities, particularly the Cham people, in southern and south-central Vietnam, following the recent merger of provincial-level administrative units.
The animated feature Buffalo Kids, hitting Vietnamese theatres on September 12, is developed from the record-breaking short Strings (2024), which holds the Guinness World Record for the most awarded short film in history.
The national achievement exhibition, themed “80 Years of Independence – Freedom – Happiness,” is the largest of its kind held in Vietnam so far, bringing together 28 ministries and central agencies, 34 localities, 16 state-owned economic corporations, and 94 leading private enterprises.
Victory Vietnam by Swedish film director Bo Öhlén is a deeply moving and authentic documentary, officially premiered in April 2025 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – 2025).
The LION Championship 26 (LC26) will take place at Tay Ho Gymnasium in Hanoi on September 13, with the spotlight on the debut of World WBC Muay Thai Champion Truong Cao Minh Phat, who will square off against Irish fighter Aaron Clarke in the 61kg MMA Striking category.
The archives consist of administrative records, maps, and technical drawings from 1911–1955 left by French coal companies, along with images capturing coal mining, colonial architecture, miners’ lives, and the local community. These materials not only carry historical value but also offer vivid insights into Quang Ninh’s socio-economic landscape before 1955.
Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes are taking centre stage at the third photo exhibition “Vietnam Through the Lens of International Photographers”, which opened in Hue city on September 10.
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) hosted a screening of the film Mua do (Red Rain) on September 9 for members of the consular corps and Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city, a part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025),
With this victory, Vietnam finished at the top of Group C with nine points, officially securing a place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Finals, scheduled for January 2026.
On the opening day, Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang played the first match for the host country, defeating Indonesia’s Aashi Rawat 2-1, marking an encouraging start for the home team.
The Cultural Day is expected to help further strengthen the Vietnam – RoK friendship while reaffirming Hue’s determination to expand international exchanges and assert its role as a cultural and tourism hub of the country.
