On December 9, the French week kicked off in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France.
Being put on by Lam Dong province and the French Embassy in Vietnam, the event also celebrated the 120th anniversary of Da Lat city, which was built by the French in the late 19th century and bears the influence of French architecture and culture.
French Ambassador Jean-Noel Poirier said that the event is a chance for France to show its presence in Da Lat city. He added that France wants to further participate in the development of Lam Dong in general and Da Lat in particular.
On this occasion, diverse activities, including a map exhibition featuring the formation and development history of Da Lat, screenings of four famous French films, a photo exhibition highlighting Da Lat, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city at night by French photographer Sebastien Laval, and a concert by Vietnamese and French artists will be held.
The book “Plague and Cholera” by Patrick Deville, in Vietnamese and French languages, will also be introduced. The book tells the stories of Swiss-French doctor Alexandre Yersin, who is credited in Vietnam for finding Liang Biang plateau, a famous site in Da Lat city, in 1893.