Vietnamese join massive Dutch festival

Traditional Vietnamese music and dance has been entertaining Dutch and international audiences at the Tong Tong festival taking place in The Hague, the Netherlands, until Sunday this week.
This is the first time Vietnamese artists take part in the annual Tong Tong festival, part of the larger Pasar Malam Besar in the Dutch political capital. The event is considered the biggest Eurasian fair in the world. The Vietnamese delegation is joining the festival as it celebrates its 50th year - a golden jubilee.

Pasar Malam Besar is a treat for all the senses, including a cultural festival, exhibition and food feast rolled into one, held in an archipelago of tents and stands. The Tong Tong Festival is one of the biggest attractions, with more than 400 performances taking place over 12 days.

Nineteen Vietnamese artists are performing dan bau (monochord), dan nhi (Vietnamese two chord fiddle), klongput and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands)dance. So far the artists have proven rather popular, attracting large audiences to the Malieveld stadium where the festival is held.

The Vietnamese artistic troupe is also manning a booth informing Europeans of the country’s typical cultural identity, its handicrafts products, landscapes, and country’s tourism potential. Visitors are being encouraged to vote for Ha long bay as one of the world’s new natural wonders. So far, visitors’ favourites include Vietnamese handicrafts products such as tho cam (brocade), ceramics, embroidery products and of course the country’s signature conical hats. — VNS

Tag: Asia , Exhibition , Festival , Ha Long , Ha Long Bay , Handicraft , International , Tour , Tourism , Vietnam , Vietnamese

Vietnamese join massive Dutch festival