A seminar entitled "Vietnam: Beyond theWar" was held in Washington on March 24 by the InternationalFrancophonie Organisation, the Vietnamese embassy in the US and theSmithsonian Associates of the US.
It is one of the activities in the framework of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2010, lasting from March 1 to April 11.
Opening the seminar, a representative from the Smithsonian Associatessaid: "For many Americans, the word “Vietnam” conjures images of war,but today’s Vietnam is a thriving society whose modern culture standson the foundation of a rich and textured 1000-year history."
Deputy Chief of Mission of the Vietnamese embassy, Nguyen Tien Minh,expressed the hope that through the seminar, participants would gain abetter understanding of the country and people of Vietnam.
Taking the floor, Dana Sachs who teaches creative writing classes atthe University of North Carolina, using personal narrative, scholarlyresearch, and vivid images of Vietnam in the past and the present,leads a journey through Vietnam's history, geography and culture,especially surprising results of the "doi moi" (renovation) process.
Dana Sachs, who has visited Vietnam a dozens times, presented more thana hundred participants with photos on beautiful Vietnam, Dana Sachs isthe author of many books on Vietnam including "The House on DreamStreet", "If You Lived Here", and "The Life We Were Given". Sheco-authored Two Cakes Fit For a King: Folktales from Vietnam.
Also at the event, the participants were invited to Vietnamese culinary specialties.
During the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2010, more than 35French-speaking embassies, governments and institutions in WashingtonD.C. partner with the Smithsonian Associates to present a series offilms, concerts and activities that reflect the diversity of thefrancophone world. The goal of this non-profit festival is to bringcultural activities to the Washington community that educate the publicand improve cross-cultural understanding./.
It is one of the activities in the framework of the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2010, lasting from March 1 to April 11.
Opening the seminar, a representative from the Smithsonian Associatessaid: "For many Americans, the word “Vietnam” conjures images of war,but today’s Vietnam is a thriving society whose modern culture standson the foundation of a rich and textured 1000-year history."
Deputy Chief of Mission of the Vietnamese embassy, Nguyen Tien Minh,expressed the hope that through the seminar, participants would gain abetter understanding of the country and people of Vietnam.
Taking the floor, Dana Sachs who teaches creative writing classes atthe University of North Carolina, using personal narrative, scholarlyresearch, and vivid images of Vietnam in the past and the present,leads a journey through Vietnam's history, geography and culture,especially surprising results of the "doi moi" (renovation) process.
Dana Sachs, who has visited Vietnam a dozens times, presented more thana hundred participants with photos on beautiful Vietnam, Dana Sachs isthe author of many books on Vietnam including "The House on DreamStreet", "If You Lived Here", and "The Life We Were Given". Sheco-authored Two Cakes Fit For a King: Folktales from Vietnam.
Also at the event, the participants were invited to Vietnamese culinary specialties.
During the Francophonie Cultural Festival 2010, more than 35French-speaking embassies, governments and institutions in WashingtonD.C. partner with the Smithsonian Associates to present a series offilms, concerts and activities that reflect the diversity of thefrancophone world. The goal of this non-profit festival is to bringcultural activities to the Washington community that educate the publicand improve cross-cultural understanding./.
