Belgium: Vietnamese Pavilion Leaves a Strong Impression at ManiFiesta 2025

Visitors are excited about the Vietnam Pavilion at the ManiFiesta 2025 Festival.

The North Sea rains poured down relentlessly, but could not dampen the heat of ManiFiesta 2025, the annual festival of solidarity, music , culture and shared aspirations.

On September 13 and 14, despite the sudden rains of the North Sea, the city of Ostend (Belgium) still came alive with the ManiFiesta 2025 Festival organized by the Belgian Workers' Party (PTB). The event was dubbed the "Festival of Solidarity."

Tens of thousands of people from all over Belgium and neighboring countries flocked to immerse themselves in the vibrant, colorful atmosphere. In the midst of this vibrant atmosphere, Vietnam left a strong impression with its unique booth, filled with the national spirit.

Despite the pouring rain, the Vietnamese booth was still crowded with visitors. Many people wore raincoats and held umbrellas as they walked through the wet streets but still persevered to stop here.

T-shirts printed with the red flag and yellow star, badges with Uncle Ho’s portrait or a simple smiling picture all arouse curiosity and emotion, making many tourists excited to receive them. Some cherish the badge, others stop for a long time to look at the portrait, and then take away a small but meaningful memory.

In the warm space of the booth, visitors leisurely sip hot tea, enjoy the strong aroma of Vietnamese coffee and chat together. In their hands are newspapers and magazines published by the Vietnam News Agency such as Le Courrier du Vietnam, Vietnam Pictorial. All blend together to create a close and friendly stop, where the rustic but rich identity of the Vietnamese homeland spreads in the faraway coastal city of Ostend.

The highlight of the main booth is the digital exhibition about President Ho Chi Minh , organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium in collaboration with the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace. With just a smartphone, visitors can scan the QR code to embark on a journey to learn about his life and career.

In addition, President Ho Chi Minh is also one of the six typical leaders of the movement for national independence, solemnly introduced in the main area of the festival.

In the bustling crowd, Ms. Kubra Sertkaya shared with VNA reporters: “Last year, I read a book about Ho Chi Minh and was really impressed. For the first time, I understood about Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers and their great sacrifices. Today, I am very happy to see the Vietnamese booth with my own eyes and feel closer about this country."

A French tourist, Mr. Karel Peeters, emotionally said: “Since I was a child, I have had special feelings for Vietnam. I see that Ho Chi Minh has very progressive thoughts, a humane and thorough socialist ideal. That makes me always care about and respect your country."

Vietnam's presence also made a strong impression on European political friends. European Parliamentarian Marc Botenga shared: "It is wonderful that Vietnam is present at ManiFiesta, recounting the history of the struggle for independence and unification. In such a meaningful anniversary year, Vietnam's presence is a great honor for us."

Bozzo Freddy, a Brussels resident with a calm demeanor and bright eyes, said that he lives in Brussels but attends ManiFiesta every year. The festival always brings him many special experiences. He realized that even unfavorable weather and heavy rain cannot stop festival lovers. They come not only out of curiosity, but also to meet like-minded people, to feel that they are not alone in the fight for what is right.

According to Mr. Freddy, ManiFiesta is a place where interesting meetings take place between people from all over the world . Even if you can't travel far, visitors can still go through the booths and learn more about what is happening in other countries.

He believes that the media does not always play a good role in connecting people, politicians and social organizations. ManiFiesta is therefore valuable, bringing direct, lively and genuine connections.

Mr. Freddy emphasized that for people like him, coming to the festival is to find an emotion, a harmony. Only by "standing shoulder to shoulder," can people fight against injustice and abuse around the world. The key word of ManiFiesta, according to him, is "unity."

Not only stopping at the exhibition booths, ManiFiesta 2025 also exploded with a series of concerts by international artists such as Barbara Pravi, Youssoupha, Youssef Swatt's or 47Soul. The melodies resounded against the cloudy grey sky, warming up the entire coastal city.

Alongside this are international panels, with familiar names like Jeremy Corbyn, Christiane Benner and Kristen R. Ghodsee discussing labour, the environment, social justice and world peace.

The festival also opens up many friendly spaces such as book fairs, film screenings, sports, and activity corners dedicated to youth and families. All intertwined, creating a "big picture," where the joy of meeting and solidarity become the bond that binds the community.

At ManiFiesta 2025, Vietnam not only promotes the country's image, but also affirms its active presence in cultural and social spaces rich in humanity. The Vietnamese pavilion has left a beautiful impression in the hearts of international friends, contributing to fostering friendship between the Vietnamese people and the Belgian people and friends around the world.

vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/bi-gian-hang-viet-nam-de-lai-dau-an-dam-net-tai-le-hoi-manifiesta-2025-post882116.html