Promoting the French language among young people in Ho Chi Minh City.

On April 11th, the 2026 Francophone Festival took place at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (Ho Chi Minh City) with many diverse activities, contributing to spreading the love of the French language and promoting cultural exchange in the community.

French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Etienne Ranaivoson (third from the left) and Anne Laure Vincent, Education Cooperation Attaché, French Institute in Vietnam (far left), pose for a photo with students participating in the Francophone Day 2026. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)

The event was jointly organized by the French Embassy in Vietnam, the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the French Institute in Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, the Swiss Consulate General, the Canadian Consulate General, and the Institute for Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF). The program attracted a large number of students, teachers, families, and members of the public.

The event included various activities such as French public speaking competitions, French cultural experiences, thematic workshops, and career networking. These highlighted learning pathways in French from primary school to university, as well as specific career opportunities related to using French. The event space also catered to family activities, with areas for children, art performances, food stalls , and exhibitions.

Speaking at the event, the French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Etienne Ranaivoson, emphasized that French, spoken by approximately 400 million people globally, is a bridge between cultures, generations, and peoples. According to him, learning French is not just about accessing a language, but also about contributing to building "bridges" of connection and dialogue in a diverse world .

Assessing the significance of the event, Mr. Ranaivoson stated that the Francophone space is an open platform, offering vast opportunities for cooperation not only with France but also with many French-speaking countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium. In this new context, Vietnam-France cooperation is increasingly focused on human resource training and expanding educational and career opportunities for young people.

Students participate in a public speaking competition in French. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)

According to Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, in the context of deep international integration, learning foreign languages, including French, plays a crucial role in expanding learning opportunities, exchanges, and career development. He expressed confidence that the movement to teach and learn French in Ho Chi Minh City will continue to develop, contributing to the training of high-quality human resources.

From an educational perspective, Anne Laure Vincent, Education Cooperation Attaché of the French Institute in Vietnam, noted that young people today approach the French language in a more dynamic and creative way. French is not just a subject of study but has also become a tool for entertainment, interaction, and connection, especially through music, culture, and community activities.

According to Ms. Vincent, for post-secondary students, French is also linked to international study pathways and specific career opportunities. Therefore, Francophone Day is not only symbolic but also a strategic step to maintain and develop the Francophone community in the long term.

Today, French continues to assert its position in the world as the fourth most spoken language and the second most learned foreign language, with nearly 170 million learners. These figures demonstrate the potential for development and the wide-ranging opportunities that French offers, especially for the younger generation in the context of international integration.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/lan-toa-tieng-phap-trong-gioi-tre-tphcm-220758.html