The unique cultural features of Vietnam's regions will be showcased at the "Colors of Vietnam" program, held from April 14-16, at the walking-only space around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.

This is an activity within the framework of the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Partnership Conference between April 13-15 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership relations between Vietnam and France.

There are 60 booths in the exhibition area, showcasing typical handicrafts, products, and delicacies from many localities, along with images of cooperation achievements between Vietnam and France.

The booths will be divided into thematic areas such as the potential of provinces and cities; craft village products; culinary culture, and Vietnam-France cooperation. In addition, visitors will also enjoy special art performances at the stage area.

Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone will be the venue for the Colors of Vietnam program. Photo: Bich Hoi/The Hanoi Times

The event allows domestic and foreign tourists to experience the culture and cuisine of various localities. It’s also a place to promote and introduce cultural traditions, potentials, and socio-economic achievements of Hanoi and other cities and provinces of Vietnam.

According to Tran Nghia Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Foreign Affairs, this program is part of a series of important foreign affairs events in the capital, contributing to reaffirming Vietnam's commitment to creating good conditions for investment and business and effectively attracting foreign partners.

"In the framework of the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Partnership Conference, the French Embassy will organize the ‘Balade en France’ (Walk in France) festival to promote the cuisine and image of France. The Hanoi Trade, Tourism, Investment Promotion Center (HPA) will host the ‘Colors of Vietnam’ program at the same venue to create a cultural exchange between the two countries,” Hoa said.

The conference will discuss ways to boost sustainability and create opportunities for business and cultural exchanges among the localities of the two countries.

It will also give government and organization officials and business executives chances to discuss cooperation on key development issues such as environmental protection, water management, smart city and digitalization, heritage preservation, and tourism.

Held every three years, with Vietnamese and French localities taking turns to host the event, the conference is an opportunity for both sides to discuss obstacles, evaluate the results in bilateral relations, and come up with feasible solutions to foster their partnerships, thus strengthening the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France.