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The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu, deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Bui Truong Giang, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, other local officials, and thousands of Vietnamese people.

Opening the festival, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese People Association in the RoK Nguyen Ngoc Cam, who is also Honorary Mayor of Seoul, said the event helps expatriates, who number 180,000 in the RoK at present, to remember their origin. Meanwhile, local people could better understand the traditional culture of Vietnam, thereby enhancing the cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

The festival featured a number of activities, including a Vietnamese-Korean talent search contest, a painting competition for children of Vietnamese-Korean families, a parade of traditional costumes of Vietnam, a fashion show, an arts programme by Vietnamese artists, introduction of Vietnamese handicrafts and cuisine, and folk games.

Ambassador Tu said organsing the Vietfest Seoul on the National Day at a sacred historical and cultural place like Gwanghwamun Square was an illustration of the close-knit relations between Vietnam and the RoK since their diplomatic ties were set up 26 years ago.

He stressed that bilateral connections in all the three aspects of politics, economy and culture are growing well, and the two sides will keep promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as labour and educational cooperation in the time ahead.