Opera House-Hanoi-Vietnam

Vietnam will hold special cultural exchange activities to mark the International Francophone Day (March 20), thus demonstrating its strong commitment to the Francophone community.

The Francophone Day has been marked in Vietnam for two consecutive years by a group of Francophone embassies, mission and agencies, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the International Francophone Organisation (OIF).

The main celebration ceremony will take place at the Hanoi Opera House on March 20 under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien.

In the second half of March, a photo exhibition by Vietnamese photographer Le Vuong entitled "Sac mau cac dan toc Viet Nam" (Colours of Vietnamese ethnic groups), a quiz programme by Francophone radios, and a Francophone night gala to introduce advertising films of French-speaking countries and an eloquence contest will be held at the Centre for French Culture (L'Espace) in Hanoi.

Cultural exchange programmes of embassies of French-speaking countries will include a concert extolling the French language by Canadian twin sisters, a book exhibition by four young Canadian authors, and a concert by Belgian singer Marka. Special films of France, Belgium and Switzerland will be screened during a Francophone Film Week.

The year 2006 also honours the 100th birth anniversary of former Senegalese President Lopold Sedar Senghor, one of those who initially promoted the establishment of the Francophone community in the early 1960s. The Francophone Community has decided to name 2006 the Year of Senghor.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and the Hanoi People's Committee in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and the OIF Office for Asia-Pacific will issue a special stamp with a picture of former President Senghor.

(Source: VNA)