A ‘Europe Village’ will be erected in Hanoi as part of a series of activities to observe the Euro Day in the Vietnamese capital this year.

The ‘Europe Village,’ to be located at Ly Thai To Square near the city’s iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, will offer visitors a wide range of cultural, artistic, and culinary activities, hoping to bring a true European atmosphere to the capital.

Europe Day is the name of an annual observance by the European Union (EU), held on May 9. It is also known as Schuman Day, in commemoration of the 1950 Schuman Declaration, proposed by Robert Schuman, the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs with the hope to create a united Europe.

However, the special village, jointly organized by the EU Mission in Vietnam, several embassies of EU member states in the country, and the European Cultural Institute, is only open to visitors in three days from May 4.

The event will also feature such activities as musical traditional music and dance performances of Slovakia, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary, sports events, fashion shows, and creative workshops for children.

Visitors will also be entertained with a series of jazz performances of the Netherlands, Italy, and Austria.

Music fans will also be treated to Beatbox - Acapella shows by several French artists.

Various guitarists and EDM artists from Denmark will provide Vietnamese audience with their best shows.

Several booths offering European dishes, products, and handicrafts are poised to provide the ‘Europe Village’ visitors with true experience of European culture.

The areas surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake will also be the stage for Belgian artists to showcase their unique stilt walking skills.

A photobook named European Cultural Heritage will also be presented during the three-day event.

Myriad activities

The 6th European Literature Days will be launched in Hanoi from May 5 to 8, and in Ho Chi Minh City from May 8 to 12 as part of the framework to celebrate the Europe Day.

Readers will have the chance to get their hands on some of the latest publications from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Poland, France, Czech, Spain, Sweden, Italy, and Belgium.

Several creative writing seminars, talk and reading shows will also be held by European authors during the literature event.

The Europe Day Gala Concert will take place at the Hanoi Opera House on May 11, and at the Ho Chi Minh City’s Municipal Theater on May 13.

The gala concert will feature famed violinist Bui Cong Duy and other Vietnamese artists performing both Vietnamese and European masterpieces composed by renowned artists such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Fritz Kreisler, Peter Warlock, Frederic Chopin, and Ludwig Van Beethoven.

On top of these celebrations, an admission-free event named Crafting Futures showcasing works by young designers and traditional craft-making artists will take place at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hanoi from May 14 to 31.

The British Council, in partnership with the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies, with financial support from the European Union, will also host a different event named “Cultural and Creative Hubs” in Ho Chi Minh City on May 17, and in Hanoi on May 24.

Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Belgian artists perform stilt walking shows. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Austrian jazz artists Michaela Rabitsch and Robert Pawlik. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A jazz band from the Netherlands performs on stage. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The photo book European Cultural Heritage. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A hockey game by players from the Czech Republic. Photo: Tuoi Tre

European artists showcase their traditional dances. Photo: Tuoi Tre