Maria Minova, head of the organizing board of the Prague festival of ethnic minority groups, said the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic has helped local people and those from other ethnic minority groups gain an insight into Vietnamese culture.

During the festival, Vietnamese artists have delivered a range of impressive performances of Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs, the T’rung instrument, dances from the Central Highlands region, and a fashion show which honours the beauty of the nation’s traditional long dress, known as the Ao Dai.

Artist Thu Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Culture and Art Association in the Czech Republic, said Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs were officially recognize by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity whilst the T’rung is one of the unique cultural characteristics of Vietnam.

The festival, the year’s largest event of ethnic minority communities in the Czech Republic, has seen 30 art troupes from 20 nations and territories which have people living in the Czech Republic take part.

The festivities include music and dance performances, traditional costume fashion shows from ethnic minority groups, and exhibitions of handicraft products from each nation.

The Czech government officially recognized the Vietnamese community living in the country as an ethnic minority group during mid-2013.

Since then, the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic has been actively participating in activities throughout the European nation and has left a strong impression on other communities within the Czech Republic.

VOV