Viet Nam-Korea Family Festival in Seoul turns towards the roots

The Viet Nam Women’s Union in Korea serves as a bridge strengthening understanding and connection between the two peoples.

Held on the very day of Hung Kings' Commemoration Day at the Hana Bank hall in Seoul, the festival was organised by the Viet Nam Women's Union in Korea in a warm and convivial atmosphere. The event drew more than 100 Viet Nam-Korea families, alongside representatives and sponsors.

Mai Thị Hồng Ngọc, President of the Viet Nam Women's Union in Korea, said the 2026 festival aimed to create a shared space for families to connect, strengthen bonds, and create lasting memories. Taking place on the Hùng Kings' Commemoration Day, the event also offered an occasion for Vietnamese families in Korea to express their attachment to their roots, take pride in their heritage, and work towards building happy families while nurturing the aspirations of future generations.

A performance at the festival.

In its role as a "keeper of the flame", the Viet Nam Women's Union in Korea has not only connected Vietnam-Korea families but also provided a communal home where members can support one another. It has become a cultural bridge, helping overseas Vietnamese preserve and transmit traditional values.

Sharing the same sentiment, Nguyen Thị Thái Bình, Minister Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea, acknowledged the Union's role in working alongside the embassy to organise meaningful community activities. These efforts, she noted, contribute to strengthening ties with the homeland while fostering cohesion among younger generations of Vietnamese in Korea.

She emphasised that each family represents a story of integration and harmony, contributing not only to individual happiness but also to deepening the friendship between the two nations. Children born into bicultural families, she added, embody the future of long-term connection between Viet Nam and Korea.

The event attracted more than 100 Viet Nam-Korea families.

At the event, traditional cultural identity was reinterpreted through accessible and engaging activities. Families, particularly children, revisited their roots through short films, quizzes on the legend of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ, and a series of youthful performances.

A highlight of the programme was the "Viet Nam-Korea Young Talent" contest, where children confidently took the stage with singing, dancing, and performances of traditional instruments such as the T'rung and the zither, alongside performances of contemporary art and martial arts. Each performance, from "Lạc Hồng Bloodline" to "Cò Lả", offered a glimpse into the experience of growing up between two cultural worlds.

Beyond a community gathering, the Viet Nam-Korea Family Festival has become a moment of reflection for overseas Vietnamese, reinforcing connections to their homeland while ensuring that Vietnamese cultural values continue to be preserved and shared abroad.

Ngọc Anh - Đăng Dương (dịch)