Festival marks Int’l Francophone Day in Hanoi

Hundreds of students in Hanoi on March 19 joined in a festival celebrating the International Francophone Day 2011.
Hundreds of students in Hanoi on March 19 joined in a festival celebrating the International Francophone Day 2011.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Swiss Ambassador to VietnamJean-Hubert Lebet, President of the Group of Francophone Embassies,Delegations and Institutes, praised the initiative to organise thefestival on the occasion of the International Francophone Day (March20).

The festival offered an opportunity for theFrancophone community in Hanoi , especially students, to share theirinterest in the language and cultures of French-speaking countries, hesaid.

It also helped increase the popularity of theFrench language in order to make it not only the language of culture butalso the language of science, trade, economics and law, he added.

During the event, held at the Hanoi University, students visitedcamps and showrooms of embassies of French-speaking countries, includingCanada , Switzerland , Belgium and France . They also had achance to join interesting games such as hockey, a traditional sports inCanada, and a contest on France as well as enjoy famous cheese fromSwitzerland .

The 14th French Singing Contestfor the northern region was also held during the festival, drawing theparticipation of 16 units with 26 solo and duet items./.

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