Namaste Vietnam Festival set to kick off this weekend

HCMC – The second edition of India’s Namaste Vietnam Festival, or Hello Vietnam Festival, is slated to take place from August 12 to 17 in three cities—HCMC, Dalat and Tuy Hoa—with the aim of strengthening Vietnam-India cooperation in culture and trade.

The festival will introduce the rich and diverse cultural values of India, showcasing its unique customs, art, and cuisine, said Piyush Rathore, representative of the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam (INCHAM), at a press conference held today, August 9.

The festival’s grand opening will be organized at the Hoa Binh Theater in HCMC on August 12, with around 2,000 spectators expected to join.

This week-long event will highlight a wide range of activities, including film screenings, music concerts, business seminars, and trade meetings to provide opportunities for both nations to foster cultural and economic cooperation, said Bali Rahul Sudesh, curator of Namaste Vietnam Festival 2023.

The festival features the participation of well-known filmmakers, singers and artists from India, including Avika Gor, who was cast in the popular TV series Balika Vadhu.

Namaste Vietnam Festival is expected to have a profound impact on various aspects of Vietnam-India relations, said Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, consul general of India in HCMC.

The event will promote bilateral cooperation in the film industry, with experts and professionals discussing the possibility of establishing Bollywood film studios in the cities of Dalat and Nha Trang. The organizer also aims to boost tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and India, he added.

The upcoming event is held by the Consulate General of India in HCMC and Innovations India, under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.

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