Vietnamese’ largest market in Berlin hosts popular cultural festival
A freshly-ended popular culture festival called “Song o Berlin (Living in Berlin)” has taken Dong Xuan - the largest Vietnamese shopping centre in Berlin - by storm, attracting over 10,000 participants and vividly depicting the integration and coexistence of different cultures.
An event held as part of the “Song o Berlin (Living in Berlin)” festival at the Dong Xuan shopping centre in Berlin (Photo: VNA)
Berlin (VNA) - A freshly-ended popular culture festival called “Song o Berlin (Living in Berlin)” has taken Dong Xuan - the largest Vietnamese shopping centre in Berlin - by storm, attracting over 10,000 participants and vividly depicting the integration and coexistence of different cultures.
The four-day event, starting on July 25, featured live music performances, activities involving arts, comedy, dance, and Vietnamese cuisine, as well as discussions focusing on the younger Vietnamese generation growing up in Berlin, embodying both cultures. It also ran a Vietnamese film programme showcasing award-winning short movies and special pre-screenings of a new series by the German broadcaster ARD, titled "Made in Germany" and directed by young Vietnamese-German director Ngo Ngoc Duc.
At the event, which marked the shopping centre’s 20th founding anniversary, its general director Nguyen Van Hien recalled its development path from challenging and difficult early days to the present vibrant and distinctive operation amidst a multicultural Berlin. The journey is truly memorable and a source of pride, he said.
Mayor of Lichtenberg Martin Schaefer noted that the district, which houses Dong Xuan and the largest Vietnamese community in the German capital, has evolved along with immigrants who have come to shape the area.
According to Schaefer, out of approximately 310,000 people currently residing in Lichtenberg, nearly 12,500 are of Vietnamese descent. Therefore, the shopping centre and other facilities established by Vietnamese expatriates in Berlin and the neighbouring state of Brandenburg have played a significant role in building social bridges in many years.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh said that Dong Xuan is not only the number one commercial and service hub for the Vietnamese community in Europe but also a major contributor to Berlin's tax revenue, providing numerous jobs and serving as a significant cultural venue for various segments of Germany's population, especially the youth./.
Kultursommerfestival 2023, a cultural initiative of the Berlin authorities, have taken place at the Vietnamese expat community’s renowned Dong Xuan Centre, entertaining thousands of festival-goers with music performances.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt city of Germany have organised a programme to promote Vietnam as a friendly, attractive and safe destination to key European markets in general and Germany in particular.
Established with the mission of being a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Germany, for the last 15 years, Huong Viet, an online magazine of Vietnamese people in Germany, has kept promoting its role and maintaining its position as a leading Vietnamese electronic information site in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
