On the afternoon and evening of December 22nd, the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language organized an International Cultural Day to celebrate Christmas and New Year 2012. More than one hundred international students and nearly one hundred and fifty Vietnamese students from the Faculty, along with faculty members, participated in this event.As is customary every year, the Cultural Day featured an afternoon food program and an evening cultural performance. International and Vietnamese students set up ten stalls selling food from various countries. Vietnamese students sold traditional dishes such as spring rolls, salads, bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), pho cuon (rolled pho), gac fruit sticky rice, and bamboo-cooked rice. Japanese students sold traditional Onigiri rice balls with miso soup. Chinese students offered dumplings and sesame glutinous rice balls. Korean students sold spicy Tokkbokki soup and Mantu (small dumplings), which sold out the fastest. Cuban students offered a special cocktail called Mojito. Russian students sold savory pancakes with milk or squid. Mongolian students offered Buuz (a type of pancake) with salad. Ukrainian students offered Vareniki (a potato and wheat flour pancake). The food stalls were awarded various prizes by the judging panel, including best-selling dish, best-tasting dish, and best-decorated dish.
This year's Vietnamese cultural exhibition also focused on showcasing paintings and photographs related to Vietnamese cuisine, houses, etc. The cultural program started at 6 pm with about 20 outstanding performances by international and Vietnamese students, featuring familiar songs such as the choral performance of "Vietnam, My Homeland," "Drum Rice," etc. Students from Russia, China, Thailand, Mongolia, Ukraine, and other countries all presented excellent performances, receiving much applause from the audience. Representing the faculty, Ms. Bich Nga and Mr. Thien Nam performed a duet of "Sending You at the End of the Red River," which was considered extremely impressive.
In an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son, Vice Rector of the university, representing the Board of Directors, not only gave a speech of encouragement, praise, and New Year's greetings to the students, but also brought a big surprise by performing a very heartfelt and skillful Quan Ho folk song from Bac Ninh on stage. Many former students working at embassies and companies also returned to visit their alma mater on this occasion.
This has become a tradition at the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language before students embark on their Christmas and New Year holidays, contributing to a more vibrant and meaningful international cultural exchange.
