Numbers of young Hanoians gathered at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace in Ha Noi on April 11 to join various activities of the first Viet Nam – RoK cultural festival in Ha Noi.
The festival, held for the first time by the Korean Cultural Centre in Viet Nam and the Korean People’s Association in Ha Noi, was to mark the 23rd anniversary of the diplomatic relation establishment of Viet Nam and RoK.
The festival featured more than 80 booths of all kinds, from electronics, to food, crafts, fashion, cosmetics and tourism exhibitions.
Visitors to the event were embedded in a cultural exchange programme including RoK traditional music, folk games, cuisine and fashion shows. There were also performances of modern music by B-boy dance, taekwondo and the Korean hanbok fashion show.
The highlight of the programme was a concert, which featured a number of performances of Korean popular singers such as Park Sang Min, Kim Ho Jung and K-pop idol groups like SWITCH, NOM, On Hui Jung and Vietnamese singer Tuan Hung. The programme also drew the participation of famous Korean MC’s Jo Yeong Gu, Lee Chang Min and comedian Lee Kwang Deuk.
According to Ko Sang Gu, chairman of the Korean Association in Ha Noi, with about 40,000 Koreans currently living in Hanoi, in total of 140,000 Korean expatriates living in Viet Nam, this event was a chance for the Korean community in Viet Nam to raise awareness of community integration and show their love and appreciation for Viet Nam.
Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Viet Nam Park Nark Jong said: "This year we emphasised on the unique features of Korean culture and I hope this will become an annual event."
According to organiser, all the proceeds from the programme will be sent to the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Viet Nam to support those living in difficulties.