50TH ANNIVERSARY: Vietnamese designer Hoàng Hải, Miss International Vietnam 2022 Phạm Ngọc Phương Anh and organisers at a press conference on the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-France diplomatic relations held in HCM City. — VNS Photo Phương Mai

HCM CITY — The French Institute in Việt Nam will hold a wide range of cultural activities across Việt Nam this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-France diplomatic relations and the tenth anniversary of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

The celebration will open with a discussion on the topic of “Views on French and Vietnamese Cuisine” at Sofitel Saigon Plaza in HCM City today.

The event will be hosted by French and Vietnamese chefs such as Didier Corlou, owner of  Cô Mai Restaurant in Hội An, Alain Nguyen, a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure de Cuisine Francaise Ferrandi (Superior School of French Cuisine at Ferrandi) in Paris, and Thảo Na from Lavelle Library Restaurant in HCM City.

The hosts will discuss cuisine, ingredients and cooking methods, and the fusion of the two countries’ cuisine.

They will also offer a cooking demonstration of Vietnamese and French dishes at the event.

From April to June, the organiser will host a series of events highlighting French and Vietnamese cuisines such as French Cuisine Week with the participation of France’s leading chefs, such as Guillaume Gomez, former chef at the Élysée Palace.

There will be discussions about French cuisine and wine, and Vietnamese coffee and cacao, and a workshop for young Vietnamese bakers instructed by chefs from the Ecole Supérieure de Cuisine Francaise Ferrandi.

Meanwhile, several events honouring the two countries’ fashion industries will be held between June and December.

The highlighted event will be a fashion design competition called “Fashion in Paris” for Vietnamese young talents in June.

The eight best contestants will be chosen by a jury of renown French and Vietnamese fashion experts and designers, such as designer Hoàng Hải, to enter the final.

In the final, they will have remote training courses with experts from France and receive financial support to create their own collections of five designs.

The designers will present their collections and have a Q&A session at the finale held on October 21 in HCM City.

The winner will receive a scholarship to study high fashion in Paris.

A fashion show and series of talk shows about French perfume and fashion industry, and slow fashion will be held as well.

Sophie Maysonnave, counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities at the French Embassy in Việt Nam and director of the French Institute, said at the press conference in HCM City on Wednesday: “We hope the public can enjoy a wide range of interesting events across the country on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-France diplomatic relations.”

The organisers will also host a mobile photo exhibition titled “Photo Hanoi 23” in Hà Nội from April 21 to late May, attracting photographers from France, Argentina and Việt Nam.

A French singing competition for Vietnamese contestants will be held in Đà Nẵng from March to June.

In December, the organisers will launch a music and light gala in Huế as a closing event of the celebration, featuring electro music and visual light effects set up by professional staffs from two countries. — VNS