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| Artistes from the Trung Vuong Theater deliver performances to serve more than 1,100 spectators at the concert. Source: Danang.gov.vn |
The Vietnam – France Music Exchange Night was organized in the central city of Da Nang to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France (April 12, 1973 – April 12, 2023), as well as the 10-year milestone of their strategic partnership (September 2013 – 2023). The event also coincided with the 41st anniversary of World Music Day.
More than 1,500 people attended the show, which included delegates at the central level, city leaders, the French Embassy in Vietnam, foreign diplomatic missions located in the city, as well as Da Nang’s officials and residents. The event garnered a significant turnout and attracted a diverse range of attendees from various backgrounds and organizations. This demonstrates the widespread interest and support for the show within the community.
At the event, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh highlighted the strong and growing relations of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France. With France currently being the third biggest European investor in Vietnam, the economic ties between the two countries are flourishing. Additionally, there is a significant cultural exchange between the two nations, with over 7,000 Vietnamese students currently studying in France and approximately 1,500 Vietnamese students traveling to France every year to pursue their education. This demonstrates the lasting and meaningful connection between Vietnam and France.
In Vietnam, French is the second most popular language among students, with nearly 40,000 learners in 35 provinces and cities nationwide. This number surpasses all other languages, except for English.
Minh added that Da Nang city also sees remarkable progress in its cooperation with France. Through people-to-people diplomacy activities such as exchanges, meetings, art performances, conferences, and seminars, it has contributed to promoting closer people-to-people relations and creating a strong foundation for development cooperation between Vietnam and France. This partnership has seen significant advancements and has resulted in positive outcomes for both parties involved.
“The recent imprints of French cooperation in Da Nang in recent times can be mentioned as the project to enhance the value of the Cham Museum, which aims to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the region. Another notable initiative is the construction of the French club headquarters, providing a space for cultural exchange and promoting Franco-Vietnamese relations. Additionally, the Dam Rong district maintenance project showcases French expertise in infrastructure development. Furthermore, the collaboration between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Da Nang Development Investment Fund has resulted in a project serving community and residential development, improving the living conditions of local residents. Lastly, the project to provide equipment for Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted demonstrates the commitment of France to supporting education and nurturing talented individuals in the region.”
Da Nang has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Sens city and French businesses to collaborate on the development and promotion of tourism and to introduce Da Nang to the French and European markets, as highlighted by Permanent Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh.
According to Minh, educational cooperation between Da Nang and France is being actively promoted. The City People’s Committee and the French Embassy have signed an agreement on educational cooperation for staff training, as part of the project on the development of high-quality human resources. Currently, the city has sent 51 undergraduate and postgraduate students to study in France. In addition, Da Nang University has also established several joint training programs with Nantes University, Nice Sophia Antipolis University, and Grenoble Alpes University.
Sophie Maysonnave, Counselor for Cultural Cooperation and Activities at the French Embassy and Director of the French Institute in Vietnam, expressed that the musical performance serves as a tribute to the shared values that have connected the two countries throughout history. It also highlights the ongoing commitment of both nations to foster and strengthen this relationship in the years to come.
The Vietnam – France Music Exchange Night is an event that features performances and art exchanges between Vietnamese and French artists. The Vietnamese side of the event showcases the talented artists from the Trung Vuong Theater in Da Nang, who were gold medal winners at the prestigious Da Nang Francophone Singing Festival in 2023. These artists will be presenting a representative repertoire of the city’s Vietnam – France Friendship Association.
The French sides featured French musician and singer Dorothée Hannequin, also known as The Rodeo, and her team members.
Her music style blends elements of pop and rock, drawing inspiration from Europop from the 1960s and 1970s. The artist, who is of Vietnamese and French descent, discovered her passion for music at the tender age of 15.
