Vietnamese cultural festival opens in Australia

The Vietnamese Cultural Festival 2014 (Vietfest 2014) took place at the Australia National University (ANU) in Canberra October 10, drawing the participation of around 1,000 overseas Vietnamese and foreign students.The event, jointly held by ACT Vietnamese Overseas Students Association (ACTVOSA) and the Association of Vietnamese Students at the ANU, saw the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Luong Thanh Nghi.

The festival, the third of its kind, aimed to introduce and promote the special cultural identities of Viet Nam to people in the host country and international friends. It also offered an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese students to show their love towards the homeland.

Participants at the event enjoyed quan ho (love duet) performances, traditional dances with bamboo and an ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) show. They were also interested in Vietnamese traditional dishes and handicrafts.

Photos on the landscapes and people of Viet Nam were also on display at the event.

On this occasion, Ambassador Nghi granted certificates of merit to the organisers in recognition for their contributions to maintaining and popularising the nation’s culture as well as connecting the Vietnamese community overseas.