Society

Francophonie Day 2026 fosters cultural connections in Ho Chi Minh City

Etienne Ranaivoson, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, said Francophonie Day 2026 would serve as a venue where ideas, journeys, and destinies intersect, a platform for dialogue, diversity, and solidarity that connects and elevates people.

French-language songs performed at the opening ceremony of Francophonie Day 2026 (Photo: VNA)
French-language songs performed at the opening ceremony of Francophonie Day 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – French is not merely a language, but also serves as a connecting thread between cultures, generations, and nations, said Etienne Ranaivoson, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City.

He made the remark at Francophonie Day 2026, held on April 11 in Ho Chi Minh City and jointly organised by the French Embassy in Vietnam, the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, and the French Institute in Vietnam.

He stressed that Francophonie Day 2026 would serve as a venue where ideas, journeys, and destinies intersect, a platform for dialogue, diversity, and solidarity that connects and elevates people.

According to the Consul General, France has been highly active in Vietnam in the field of education, aiming to enhance its attractiveness amid a particularly favourable political context, following the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. This partnership, along with its accompanying action plan, has shaped in-depth cooperation in areas such as education, the Francophonie, and student exchanges between France and Vietnam.

vnanet-phap.jpg
Etienne Ranaivoson, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City speaks at the Francophonie Day 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

Francophonie Day 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City features a wide range of activities, including a French eloquence contest; a roundtable between alumni who studied in France under the theme “Growing up with France”; and a seminar on career opportunities with the participation of experts in tourism, interpretation and translation, and Francophone businesses, as well as the introduction of study programmes in France.

The event also included art performances, a chess tournament, the “Pot-au-Pho” photo exhibition, and screenings of short films featuring outstanding animated works for children from the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024.

In addition, there were creative workshops and activities for children, including chess, robotics, and virtual reality experiences, as well as initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable development, alongside a Francophone culinary space.

Currently, there are approximately 400 million French speakers worldwide. French has become the fourth most widely spoken language and the second most studied foreign language globally./.

VNA
#Francophonie Day #bilateral ties #France
Follow VietnamPlus

International integration

Related News

International visitors experience drinking West Lake lotus-infused tea (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam becomes increasingly popular destination for French tourists

French tourists are particularly interested in Vietnam’s cultural and historical values as well as its traditional identity. Authentic experiences such as exploring mountainous areas, learning about ethnic minority communities, enjoying local cuisine and discovering the country’s history are especially appealing to them.

See more

The opening ceremony of the Hoa Binh - Xuan Mai clean water plant. (Photo hanoimoi.vn)

5trillion VND clean water plant opened in Phu Tho

Cplant’s launch marked a key milestone in developing technical infrastructure in Phu Thọ and surrounding regions, helping meet rising demand for clean water in Hanoi while supporting urban, industrial and services growth.

“Google Digital Classroom”, a space that inspires passion and builds core digital skills for students. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi scales up high-quality schools, raises standards

In addition to 23 accredited institutions, the city plans to establish 37 more, lifting the total to 60. The move signals a shift in approach rather than a mere technical adjustment, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 71-NQ/TW on education breakthroughs and Hanoi’s Action Programme 05-CTr/TU.

The exquisite mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinet that Lumban Sianipar meticulously brings back from Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

“Vietnam Museum” in the heart of Indonesia

The house of Lumban Sianipar, former Indonesian Defence Attaché in Vietnam, unfolds as a cultural journey through Vietnam, with walls adorned with mother-of-pearl inlay works, eggshell art, lacquer and oil paintings. Intricately crafted wooden cabinets, Bat Trang ceramics and various handicrafts are thoughtfully arranged, creating a space that is both elegant and warmly imbued with Vietnamese character.

More than 1,000 amateur performers take part in Ha Long Carnaval 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Ha Long Carnaval 2026 affirms cultural industry development mindset

More than a vibrant festival, Ha Long Carnaval 2026 served as a vivid demonstration of efforts to implement Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture, reaffirming Quang Ninh’s evolving mindset of turning heritage into a powerful internal resource to drive breakthroughs in cultural industries in a new era.

Numerous pieces of evidence and documents related to activities of individuals in “Hoi thanh Duc Chua Troi Me” (World Mission Society Church of God) are seized. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri warns of religious group promoting superstition for profit

A group linked to “Hoi thanh Duc Chua Troi Me” (World Mission Society Church of God) in Quang Tri reportedly operated under a tightly organised structure with direction from an overseas “head organisation”, employing various plans to approach and psychologically manipulate individuals.

The 172nd repatriation ceremony of US serviceman’s remains held in Da Nang. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam hands over more MIA remains to US

The remains were recovered during a recent joint Vietnam–US excavation in central Hue city. On April 27, Vietnamese and US forensic specialists conducted a preliminary examination, indicating the remains may be linked to a missing US serviceman. They will be sent to a forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.

Activities within the Visit Vietnam Year – Hue 2025 attract a large number of visitors (Photo: VNA)

Ministry rolls out plan to promote national image

At its core, the plan emphasises mobilising the combined strength of the political system and society, linking communications with the promotion of cultural values and soft power of the country.

People donate blood at the launch of the Humanitarian Month 2026 in Hanoi on April 29. (Photo: VNA)

Humanitarian Month 2026 launched with community support activities

Over the past five years, Humanitarian Month campaigns have raised more than 3 trillion VND (nearly 114 million USD), assisting more than 6.6 million people. Beyond figures, the initiative has helped strengthen social trust and foster compassion across society.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Truong Sa Museum in Cam Lam commune, the south central province of Khanh Hoa, on April 29 (Photo: VNA)

Truong Sa Museum to honour generations safeguarding national sovereignty

The museum covers a total area of approximately 17,100 square metres, with total investment estimated at 299.7 billion VND (11.37 million USD). Funding for the project is provided through sponsorship from Vinhomes JSC, and construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.

Social housing projects help meet the housing needs of low-income earners and workers, while contributing to sustainable urban development. (Photo: VNA)

Social housing construction target exceeds by 44%

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has issued an official dispatch urging localities to accelerate the development of social housing projects to meet the target of more than 158,700 units in 2026, as set out in Government Resolution No. 7/NQ-CP.

Deputy Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Department of Local Government Nguyen Thi Tu Thanh speaks at the press briefing. (Photo: VNA)

Two-tier local administration model runs smoothly: ministry

After slashing layers of bureaucracy and pushing more power down to the commune level, a substantial volume of work has shifted to the grassroots officials. In many areas, the workforce is unevenly skilled, with a shortage of specialists. Additionally, certain units operate across multiple locations, making management, coordination, and day-to-day operations a real mess.