EUROPE DAYS

This series of events commemorates “Europe Day” – 9 May.

The 6th edition of “Europe Days” 2009 in Vietnam presents a number of exciting events in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue, prepared by the Delegation of the European Commission, the Embassies of EU Member States, and the European Cultural Centres.

Kicking off with an art exhibition entitled Alberto Corazon- painting, sculpture and conceptual work presented by the Spanish Embassy, “Europe Days” 2009 will carry on all month long, endeavouring to bring  to local audiences an entertaining and intellectually refreshing cocktail of events reflecting many aspects of a Europe which is “united in diversity”.

A Comic Strip conference and exhibition, presented by the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation, pays tribute to Peyo, the creator whose works of cartoon adaptation have won world fame. The musical scenes of “Europe Days 2009” will this year be enriched by a number of key performances, including a Silent Film Concert featuring the Sergei Eisenstein, 1925 classic, the Battleship Potemkin accompanied by two pianists, Pierre Oser and Frank Strobel; a French Music Classical Concert entitled Stradivaria presented by the French Embassy, a Sibelius Concert presented by the Finnish Embassy, and a Spanish Music and Dance performance named Suite Espaňola.

“Europe Days 2009” will also charm cinema fans by showcases of a wide selection of films during the Annual European Film Festival – featuring up to fourteen films from several European countries, a Finnish Film Week presented by the Finnish Embassy, and an UK Film Week dedicated to John Schlesinger, one of the most interesting and prolific British directors.

A Seminar on EU-Vietnam Trade relations, two Talks by EU Ambassadors at universities in Hue and Da Nang named Reaching out to youth , and a Writing Contest on Climate Change, complete the array of events that promote public diplomacy and awareness- raising on issues of interest to Vietnam and the EU.

This year again, it goes without saying, annual events will include the Europe-Vietnam Children’s Football Cup at the Polytechnic University, the Painting Contest on gender equality, with prizes; and the European Food Festival organised by the European Chamber of Commerce at the National Library. The Goethe Insitut will also present a Painting Exhibition entitled Seen by Others featuring works by painter Duong Thuy Duong.