Former Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Ngoc Thai and professor Huynh Huu Tue have won this year's Francophone awards for their contributions to building bridges with French-speaking countries.

The awards, to be presented on March 18, at Hanoi 's International Conference Centre, are part of a wider Francophone festival that will feature film screenings and other events.

Thai, vice-president of Vietnam-French Friendship Association, was a key player in successfully organising the 7th Francophone Summit held in Vietnam in 1997.

"Thai is an active person and the award reflects his diplomatic contributions to the development of French-speaking countries," said Swiss Ambassador Jean-Hubert Lebet, who is also president of the Francophone Embassies Delegations and Institutes Group.

Professor Tue, director of the Bac Ha College, is also recognised for his efforts in raising the profile of the French language in Vietnam .

The official awards ceremony will be attended by Vietnamese leaders and foreign diplomatic representatives in Hanoi . It also includes a fashion show featuring ethnic dresses from Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia .

The Francophone film festival, which will screen 13 critically acclaimed films, will run on March 22-30 at Hanoi 's French Cultural Centre, 24 Trang Tien street , from March 28 to April 3 in HCM City , and from March 28 to April 5 in Hue .

Featured films include Delicce Paloma ( France ), Marseille, Profil Grec ( Greece ) and three Vietnamese documentary films: Lasting with Time, directed by Le Hong Chuong, Roads to Justice by Lai Van Sinh and Countryside, by Sy Chung.

Two films, Marseille, Profil Grec and Tunisia 's Bedwin Hacker will open the festival in Hanoi on March 22, at 6pm and 8pm, respectively.

Director of Marseille, Profil Grec, Marco Gastine will attend and answer audience questions after the screening.

Other Francophone Day events include performances by Bas Cissoko, a five-member band that will treat young audiences to a night of world music tomorrow at the Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham street .

This year, students who study French in Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam will mark the 50th anniversary of the Francophone University Agency with a contest that highlights students' knowledge of the French literature and culture.

The final round of the competition, which will include 49 teams, will be held in Cambodia on March 27.

On March 20, Hanoi University will host a conference on French language studies and culture, including performances and games.

Vietnam News Agency's television channel VNews and Le Corrier du Vietnam will also take part in the festival by airing a new television programme to mark the event. /.