Europe Village to be held in Hanoi for the first time

Set to provide a bridge for cross-cultural exchange, the “Europe Days 2018” program is held by the Delegation of the European Union (EU), the Embassies of the EU Member States and the European Cultural Institutes, is to mark Europe Day – 9 May.

This year, the "Europe Days 2018" will see a prominent highlight: the "Europe Village" - an amazing and unique cultural and entertaining event that will showcase the richness of European cultures from arts, culinary to lifestyle right in the heart of Hanoi, at the Ly Thai To Statue Square, Hoan Kiem Lake. 

Over three days starting from Friday the 4th of May, the event will offer a diverse and intense line-up of about 30 on-stage and off-stage activities on various areas, ranging from concerts, sport, cultural performances, fashion show, to creative games for kids and knowledge – stimulating activities.

Visitors to the "Europe Village" will also have chance to experience a true European atmosphere at countries' booths where special presentations, interactive activities and attractive decoration are set up. The experiences will be enriched by a culinary voyage through booths set up by European companies at the event where regardless of preference of food or drink, all are ready to cater wide European tastes.

The musical scene of the “Europe Days 2018” will be enriched by a Special Concert, presenting the talented Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy and the Ensemble – in – Residence of the Vietnam Classical Players. Bui Cong Duy is a violinist who won scores of prizes, including the first prize and golden medal of the 3rd International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Saint Petersburg. 

At the Europe Day Concert, he will perform, together with the Ensemble, a program of romantic music by European composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Fritz Kreisler, Peter Warlock, Frederic Chopin and Ludwig Van Beethoven. These names enriched the history of music in the world. Through their works, they magnified the cultural wealth and musical expression in its great diversity. This concert promises to be an exquisite classical music's celebration.

The diversity of European cultural scenes will manifest itself in the launching of a Special Publication entitled "European Cultural Heritage". 2018 has been designated the European Year of Cultural Heritage by the European Union, with the slogan "Our heritage: where the past meets the future". By celebrating cultural heritage, the European Union also seeks to protect and make sure we pass it on to the next generations. We also emphasise how cultural heritage builds stronger societies, stimulates growth, creates jobs, and plays an integral part in Europe's exchanges with the rest of the world.

The European Books Days in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City, organised by the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and the EU Delegation, will be also a highlight of the Europe Days 2018. At the events, Vietnamese readers will have chances to enjoy new books from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Italy and Belgium. In addition to the presentation of books, there will be other opportunities for readers to meet authors, listen to talks and readings, or register for workshops on creative writing.