The event was organised under the initiative of The France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between France and Vietnam.

Visitors at the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

Various items such as costumes of the Dao and Kho Mu people, brocade scarves of the Thai and Lo Lo people, baskets of the E De people, or jewellery of the Mong people show the life and diversity of Vietnam' ethnic minority groups. The exhibition introduces about 70 sets of costumes, hats and scarves, along with many accessories, jewellery and daily items. The exhibits were used by people from more than 30 ethnic groups living mainly in the Northern Mountainous and Central Highlands regions, as well as minority groups in the Mekong Delta and Red River Delta.

Ms. Sonia Ait Mansour, a Moroccan student in France, remarked at the diversity of the costumes as well as the culture of Vietnamese ethnic groups. Visitors can see not only traditional costumes but also cultural diversity, inspiration created from interference with neighbouring cultures such as China or Laos, Cambodia. The colours and layout are remarkably impressive, expressing the emotional psychology and style of each ethnic group. She noticed the costume of the Red Dao people, saying that it has many similarities with the costume of an ethnic group in her country.

Other visitors, Charles Darras and Julien Paralles could not hide their surprise and impression at the costumes displayed at the exhibition. Mr. Charles Darras said this was the first time he had the opportunity to explore the costumes of Vietnam's ethnic groups and was surprised by the diversity of customs and culture of this Asian country. Mr. Julien Paralles said he is particularly impressed by the colours of the costumes of ethnic groups in the northern mountainous region, and realises the diversity in religions and cuisines of ethnic groups across Vietnam.

Besides the goal of promoting the image of the Vietnamese ethnic peoples, the exhibition, open until 12th November, also has another purpose, which is to call on French friends to pay attention and support charity activities launched by AAFV to help difficult situations in Vietnam.

Collector Dussarps said that the collection was gathered during the time that he joined Red Cross Societies and charity groups to conduct about 60 humanitarian missions throughout Vietnam. It was the love, affection and gifts of those he helped that motivated him to gradually gather all these objects, creating a precious collection. The exhibitions of traditional costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups have helped him raise funds for humanitarian projects in Vietnam. He undertook some 99 projects so far raising a total amount of 562,000 EUR (599,920 USD). Projects focus mainly on education, health care, clean water and household economic development in remote and mountainous provinces where ethnic minorities live.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, Chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV), said that each artefact and costume in the collection is a story associated with the humanitarian activities that Mr. Alain Dussarps has carried out over the past 30 years. Along with introducing the traditional costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups, the exhibition is also a chance to call for support of the groups in developing production. On this occasion, the AAFV also called for support for Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang praised the enthusiasm of AAFV in general and Dussarps’ in particular. The exhibition does not simply introduce national costumes in different regions, but also demonstrates Mr. Alain Dussarps' attachment and love for the Vietnamese people, as well as his enthusiasm in humanitarian projects, to help ethnic people in remote mountainous areas to excel in life.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang emphasised, Mr. Alain Dussarps's contributions cannot just be summarised in a few words, but it represents a long story, a long-standing friendship and a lasting solidarity.

The exhibition running until 12th November not only promotes the images of the Vietnamese nation, calls for support from international friends, but also shows the cherished feelings of French friends, especially the French collector Alain Dussarps for the country of Vietnam, contributing to cultivating the friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and France.

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