Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Unites Vietnamese Community in the UK

	Exhibition to Honor Vietnam's Cultural and Natural Heritage in Nghe An
	Honoring Vietnamese Cuisine, Culture, and Tourism in Israel

According to a VNA reporter in London, on September 28, the Vietnamese community in the UK held the Mid-Autumn Festival in Deptford in the Lewisham district. This is one of the areas with the largest number of expatriates living in London (UK).

On September 28, the Vietnamese community in the UK held the Mid-Autumn Festival in Deptford in the Lewisham district (Photo: VNA).

The annual festival, organized by the Vietnamese Family Partnership (VFP) since 2004, not only preserves and honors the beauty of Vietnamese culture but also connects and promotes the image of the Vietnamese community in the UK.

As one of the 2 largest annual events of the Vietnamese community in the UK, this year's festival attracts many overseas people, especially Vietnamese families with generations born and raised in the UK.

The festival includes many activities, such as lion dance, bamboo dance, tug of war, art performances, a handmade workshop to make moon cakes, lanterns, and mask painting. There are also chess competitions and other folk games. It receives an enthusiastic response from overseas Vietnamese as well as local people thanks to the vibrant cultural experiences.

Cuisine is also the highlight of the event. Authentic specialties like pies, rice cakes, mung bean cakes, herb teas, jams, Vietnamese vermicelli, bread, pho, and spring rolls attract many visitors.

The annual festival has been organized by the Vietnamese Family Partnership (VFP) since 2004 (Photo: VNA).

Speaking at the event, Counsellor Nguyen Tuan Viet, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to the UK stressed the significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival in connecting generations of Vietnamese families as well as connecting the overseas community in the UK.

He thanked the local authorities and VFP for supporting this effort. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK always accompanies and supports the Vietnamese community to build a united and strong community, contributing to the locality and to the home country.

Sharing with VNA correspondent in the UK, Nancy Stridgen, Cultural Cooperation Manager of Lewisham District Council, said that this district is very honored to have many Vietnamese residents living and creating a very characteristic Vietnamese community culture.

This year's festival attracts many overseas people, especially Vietnamese families with generations born and raised in the UK (Photo: VNA).

Appreciating the contribution of the Vietnamese community to the life and culture of Lewisham, she noted that many residents have made contributions to the local economic activities, supporting the local community as well as supporting members of the Vietnamese community.

It is very important to promote Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese community, thanks to VFP's relentless efforts to help spread Vietnamese cultural values locally through festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year.

The Lewisham District Council representative also shared that the district initiated East and South East Asian Heritage Month (ESEA) in September to celebrate the contributions of the ESEA community in the UK. It is committed to supporting the further highlighting of the talents and cultural values of the local Vietnamese community.

Handmade workshops receive an enthusiastic response from overseas Vietnamese as well as local people, thanks to the vibrant cultural experiences (Photo: VNA).

VFP Founder Nguyen Quynh Giao spoke about the organization's efforts over the past 20 years in preserving and sharing the beauty of Vietnamese culture, which has paid off. During this period of time, VFP received the support of the community and local authorities.

The Lewisham District was the first to initiate the ESEA, and this year, the initiative was recognized by the entire City of London. Nguyen Quynh Giao hoped that the spirit of resilience, preservation, celebration and creativity of the national traditions of Vietnamese children in foreign lands will continue to thrive, contributing to improving the prestige and image of Vietnamese people abroad.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an opportunity for Vietnamese families in the UK to promote the traditional culture and to educate their children about their roots, creating beautiful childhood memories from the traditions of their homeland, she said.

One attendant of the festival, Dao Kim Thu, an overseas Vietnamese in London, said that for Vietnamese families living and working abroad, events such as the Mid-Autumn Festival are extremely meaningful. Thanks to the festival, the community gathers together, while families have the opportunity to educate their children about the cultural values of their roots.

Dao Kim Thu and her husband bring their two young children to the Mid-Autumn Festival every year as a reminder that their children are always Vietnamese, no matter where they live.

Vietnam Affirms Its Role as Active and Responsible Member of International Community The upcoming participation of President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation in the high-level General Debate of the 80th Session of the ...

Connecting Resources of Vietnamese Community in Thailand The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, in coordination with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a seminar on connecting ...