OIF leader visits Institute of Cultural Exchange with France

Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo visited the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 23 during her week-long visit to Vietnam.
OIF leader visits Institute of Cultural Exchange with France ảnh 1Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo (left) and Director of the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Ngoc Lan on March 23. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Secretary-General of the InternationalOrganisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo visited the Instituteof Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 23during her week-long visit to Vietnam.

Welcoming Mushikiwabo, IDECAF Director Nguyen Ngoc Lan saidfounded 40 years ago, the institute has been acting as a bridge to bring Frenchcultures and language closer to HCM City’s citizens and introduce Vietnameseculture to the Francophone community and foreign expats in the city.

Through its “French-speaking Job and Internship Space,”IDECAF has played a part in developing French-speaking workforce and connectingFrench learning students with the network of enterprises from the Francophonecountries like France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in HCM City and southernprovinces.

It also serves as an advisory body for the Ministry of ForeignAffairs and the municipal People’s Committee in diplomacy and culturalpolicies, she said. The director hoped to receive further support from the OIF in thecoming time, for example, enabling IDECAF to join more activities ofOIF-operated French-speaking cultural centres around the globe.

The OIF Secretary-General, for her part,highly spoke of the diversity of activities hosted by IDECAF to promote the French languageand the Francophone community among local people, particularly the youth.

Mushikiwabo also congratulated IDECAF on its achievements over thepast four decades, saying a model like IDECAF must be multiplied in otherFrench-speaking countries. She pledged to provide all possible conditions forIDECAF to heighten its role within the OIF.

On the previous day, the OIF leader attended a Francophonebusiness forum in HCM City and paid a courtesy call to the city’s leaders./.
VNA

See more

Weightlifter Pham Thi Hong Thanh targets a gold at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Hong Thanh)

Athletes setting high goals for 2025

Athletes and coaches across national training centres have returned to intensive training, preparing for strong performances in 2025’s international competitions.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and overseas Vietnamese in Singapore at the Chingay Parade 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese in Singapore join Chingay Parade 2025

The Vietnamese community in Singapore showcased culinary delights such as pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken), banh mi (bread), and banh trang (rice paper) at the Chingay Parade 2025 on February 7-8.

Khmer traditional musical equipment handed over to Khmer traditional music clubs and groups. (Photo: VNA)

Soc Trang works to preserve ethnic minorities’ culture

The Party Committee and People's Committee of Soc Trang province where more than 35% of total population are ethnic minorities have always paid attention to preserving and promoting the traditional values of local ethnic minorities.

A performance programme at a Nguyen Tieu petry night event in 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Ninh Binh to host Vietnam Poetry Day 2025

The 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day will bring together poets born during the resistance wars against the US imperialists, after 1975, during the “Doi moi” (renewal) process until 2000, and after 2000.

Singer My Linh performs at the concert. (Photo: VNA)

“New Year Concert 2025” held in Hanoi

The “New Year Concert 2025” took place at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi on February 5, presenting a mix of famous Vietnamese songs and timeless foreign classical masterpieces

Vietnamese students of Osaka University take a group photo at the Vietnamese Culture Day in Japan programme (Photo: VNA)

Tokyo event honours Vietnamese language, culture

The Vietnamese Culture Day in Japan programme took place in Tokyo on February 4, featuring a array of captivating performances, including Vietnamese poetry readings, traditional songs, and a theatrical adaptation of the folk tale Tam Cam.

The Muong ethnic women at the Khai ha festival (Photo: VNA)

Traditional festivals mark Lunar New Year celebrations

Thousands gathered for the Khai ha (going down to the field) festival, the largest traditional one of the Muong ethnic people, in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year.