VietNamNet Bridge – A documentary about Viet Nam was aired on French national television last week, promoting the country’s beautiful regions as well as the culture of its people.

Dress to impress: A scene in the film features women from Hue City in traditional dress and conical hats. — Photo www.programme-television.org

Les sourires du Vietnam (Smiles of Viet Nam), made by French journalists, was aired on the France 5 channel, and is now available on YouTube.

Over the course of an hour and a half, the documentary takes viewers on a journey from Hue, the country’s ancient capital, all the way down south.

The film represents an overview of this country, from its abundant natural beauty and fine cuisine to beautiful emotional moments with farmers in the Mekong Delta.

In the film, French journalist Jérôme Pitorin, began his Viet Nam trip in Hue City, the country’s former royal capital city. He then went on to discover beautiful beaches at Hoi An where he met internationally renowned French photographer Réhahn Croquevielle, who has lived here for several years. Together they discover the Co Tu ethnic group that he loves photographing, with its lifestyles and traditions which are gradually being lost.

Pitorin then explored bustling HCM City with its millions of motorbikes and the peaceful daily life of people in the Mekong Delta and its floating markets. Through those discoveries and meetings, the French journalist learns more about Việt Nam, amazing him with its impressive economic progress, beautiful landscapes, happy and kind people and excellent cuisine.                                                                                            

After the film was made available on YouTube, it got many comments from Francophone people, praising the beautiful documentary and saying how much they love Viet Nam.

The film was made with support from the Viet Nam Embassy in France, Viet Nam Cultural Centre in France and journalists of the France 5’s programme “Echappées belles”, featuring various aspects of the country from life on the rivers in the Mekong Delta to the hustling atmosphere in the main cities, the country’s religious culture and its magnificent charms.

Street snack: A scene in the film features a local street vendor. Twitter Jérôme Pitorin

Viet Nam’s tourism authorities said this artistic documentary would help promote Vietnamese tourism, and urged Vietnamese agencies abroad to make good use of it.

Viet Nam attracted around 112,300 French visitors during the first five months of this year, a 13 per cent increase from a year ago, thanks to a visa exemption policy that allows tourists to stay in the country for up to 30 days.

Viet Nam welcomed 4 million tourists in total over the first half of the year, marking an increase of 21.3 per cent over the same period last year.

VNS