Vietnamese presence at the cultural festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

On June 14th, the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria participated in the Asian Festival with a booth showcasing Vietnamese culture, tourism, traditional cuisine, and handicrafts at the South Park in Sofia, the capital city.

Bulgarian Vice President Iliyana Yotova and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet pose for a commemorative photo with the dance troupe.

The event, sponsored by Vice President Iliyana Yotova and the Sofia city government, attracted 53 booths, including 11 representative offices of Asian countries in Bulgaria: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Iran, UAE, Palestine, and Mongolia.

The festival, held after a three-year hiatus, was themed "Unity in Diversity," showcasing the unique cultural, culinary , and traditional aspects of Asian countries. The all-day event (from 10 am to 10 pm) attracted nearly 20,000 attendees, demonstrating the growing interest of Bulgarians in Eastern culture. This is a testament to the appeal of the fusion between Bulgaria's rich traditional culture and Asian cultures.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bulgarian Vice President Iliyana Yotova affirmed that cultural exchange is key to helping nations and peoples live together in peace; organizing the Asian Festival with the theme "Unity in Diversity" in Sofia is a strong message for friendship and peace in the context of an unstable world situation.

Sofia Deputy Mayor Ivan Vasilev stated that Sofia is a city rich in Bulgarian tradition with thousands of years of history; affirming that the Sofia city government always values ​​preserving and promoting cultural diversity. According to Mr. Ivan Vasilev, organizing the Asian Festival in the city center of Sofia contributes to connecting different ethnic groups through the exchange of art, music , and cuisine.

Bulgarian Vice President Iliyana Yotova, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, the Deputy Mayor of Sofia, and the Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires of 11 Asian countries in Bulgaria jointly performed the ritual of releasing doves, a symbol of peace.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Bulgarian Vice President Iliyana Yotova, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, the Deputy Mayor of Sofia, and the Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires of 11 Asian countries in Bulgaria jointly performed the ritual of releasing doves, a symbol of peace.

The Vietnamese booth attracted particular attention with the vibrant red of the national flag, traditional dishes, and handicrafts such as conical hats, pith helmets, and bamboo musical instruments.

In particular, the Embassy, ​​together with the Vietnamese community and Bulgarian friends, presented seven outstanding artistic performances at the festival. The performances received enthusiastic applause from the audience, especially the dance performance to traditional Bulgarian music by girls in traditional ao dai dresses with the red flag and yellow star emblem.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet (second from left) with embassy staff at the Vietnamese booth at the festival.

During the festival, the Embassy organized unique experiential activities such as bamboo pole dancing, painting workshops about Vietnam on rattan and bamboo materials, and quizzes with prizes about Vietnam... These activities created a vibrant and engaging atmosphere, attracting a large number of visitors to the Vietnamese booth.

Earlier, on the afternoon of June 13th, the Embassy and the Vietnamese community, along with representatives from other countries, participated in a parade on Vitosha pedestrian street in the center of Sofia to promote the festival.

The Embassy's active participation in the event not only contributes to spreading Vietnamese culture to a wider Bulgarian audience, but also demonstrates the role and enhances the status of the Vietnamese community within the local society.

Here are some photos from the festival:

A Vietnamese performance at the cultural festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

A panoramic view of the cultural festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Vietnamese booth attracted the attention of international visitors.

The bamboo pole dance performance was spectacular.

Painting workshop about Vietnam using woven bamboo and rattan materials.

The event contributed to spreading Vietnamese culture to a wider Bulgarian audience.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dau-an-viet-nam-tai-le-hoi-van-hoa-o-thu-do-sofia-bulgaria-317912.html