Students, teachers and people in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17 gathered at an event to mark International Francophone Day (March 20), during which they engaged in various activities. 

Apart from exhibitions and contests, the festival-goers learned about curricula of schools which offer French language teaching. 

Bui Thi Diem Thu, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, said French language teaching has been carried out in the city for more than 20 years, and the language has been introduced at 18 educational institutions from primary to high schools, with 4,000 students.

HCM City is one of the localities nationwide that have worked hard to promote French language learning and cultural exchanges with French-speaking countries, she said, adding that the festival aims to bring together French language and culture lovers. 

French is spoken by 300 million people around the world, according to the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF).

The OIF’s mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 88 member states and governments (61 members and 27 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 900 million people, including 300 million French speakers.

It organises political activities and actions of multilateral cooperation that benefit French-speaking populations. Its actions respect cultural and linguistic diversity and serve to promote the French language, peace and sustainable development.

Vietnam has been an OIF member since 1970 and is considered among its founders.