On the occasion of Vietnam’s participation in 2007 Smithsonian folk life festival, The Ministry of Culture and information organize a press conference

(Cinet)- Today-June 12nd, On the occasion of Vietnam’s participation in 2007 Smithsonian folk life festival, The Ministry of Culture and information organize a press conference. Mr Le Tien Tho- the deputy minister is chairman of the conference. The conference also has the participation of the head of Department, Service, Unit and national and local press agencies.

Accepting  an invitation of Smithsonian Institute and the American Ambassador to Vietnam, to be agreed by Prime Minister, the Ministry of Culture and Information will lead and take Vietnam’s performance to Washington city to participate in “ 41 annual Smithsonian folk life festival” with the theme Mekong- the river connects various cultures

This is the first time Vietnam took  part in the event, 39 Vietnamese craftsman- representatives of the whole country introduced Vietnam’s cultural tradition, the country and Vietnamese to other countries all over the world  through 11 kinds of non-material cultural relics such as: Gongs ( Cong and Chieng), Sculpturing  dug-out-canoe, knitting, history poems ( Bana Rongao community, Ho moong commune, Sathay district, Kontum province); “don ca tai tu” ( Phuoc Long district, Baclieu province); classical theatre( the Dong thinh group of classical singers, Vinhlong town, Vinhlong province; lion dances( the group of lion dances Baclieu town, Baclieu province), textile industry of Cham community( PhumSoai hamlet, Chauphong Commune, Tanchau district, Angiang province), the art of making cake ( Binhthuy urban district, Cantho city); making equipment served sea-food fishing ( Phienquai, Noong Luong, Dienbien district, Dien Bien province); Robam’s Stage( Soctrang province). This is an occasion for Vietnam and other countries in mekong river areas to introduce and respect their countries’ cultural relics through non-material cultural relics and choosing their own cutural themes to perform.

Mekong programme: A river connects various cultures. Together with programmes of Northern Ireland in Smithsonian festival and root of Virginia’s culture( American) draw an overview picture of Smithsonian folk life festival.