Since the beginning of March, the Forum for the Preservation of Vietnamese Language and Culture Abroad has been hosting its first event: an international creative writing contest titled “Vietnam – The Country I Love!”, open to all Vietnamese individuals under 35 years old. The contest allows for individual and group submissions in various genres, including essays (poems, memoirs, etc.), artworks (paintings, photographs, etc.), and multimedia presentations (videos, audio recordings, etc.).
Mr. Tran Anh Tuan (from the Vietnamese Language Center in Budapest, Hungary), the contest organizer, stated: “The organizers are encouraging participation from a wide range of individuals through individual entries across four age categories and a team entry. The total prize pool of over 3,000 euros is attractive. But beyond the material aspect, this is a unique opportunity to showcase Vietnam through the positive and inspiring voice of global youth. We hope that this contest will have a significant impact within the Vietnamese community abroad.”
The above-mentioned contest is part of the many activities aimed at promoting Vietnamese language and culture abroad. Currently, the Vietnamese Youth Association of Hungary (VIFI), whose members include former students of the Vietnamese Language Center in Budapest, is organizing a series of ten introductory sessions on Vietnamese culture at the Szivárvány Kispest Kindergarten in Budapest. The local children are engaged in decorating for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, learning folk songs, and performing traditional dances. In April, VIFI plans to hold a closing event at the kindergarten, featuring an artistic program and an exhibition of Vietnamese cultural objects.
The series of events on June 21 will include a thematic seminar focusing on two main themes: the preservation of the Vietnamese language and the promotion of Vietnamese culture abroad. This major academic forum, organized in a hybrid format combining physical and online presence, will bring together experts, speakers, teachers, and community leaders who will share their experiences, practical examples, and new initiatives for preserving the Vietnamese language among young expatriates.
In addition to the contest, the series of events will also include an exhibition of books, paintings, photographs, and activities showcasing Vietnamese culture, to be held at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France on June 21. The exhibition space will feature materials on learning Vietnamese, books about Vietnam, Vietnamese crafts, tea, and cultural performances illustrating the Vietnamese identity. This will provide an opportunity for the international audience and the Vietnamese community in France and Europe to immerse themselves in the richness of Vietnamese culture.
Mr. Le Xuan Lam, president of the Forum for the Preservation of Vietnamese Language and Culture Abroad, emphasized the importance of this anniversary: “Over the past five years, the Forum has achieved remarkable success, particularly in building a network of dedicated professionals and accumulating a wealth of experience in preserving the Vietnamese language abroad. On this anniversary, we aim to collaborate with the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France — a prominent cultural institution for the Vietnamese community in the heart of Europe — to host a series of events. The first in-person seminar in Paris, bringing together representatives from Europe, Asia, and Vietnam, marks a significant advancement and defines more precise and concrete goals for the Forum.”
KIEU HUONG
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/gin-giu-tieng-viet-and-van-hoa-viet-o-nuoc-ngoai-post845197.html
