(VOVWORLD) - The 2024 edition of the “We are together as one” festival has been held recently in Busan city, the Republic of Korea (RoK). This year's festival included a variety of cultural activities involving artists from both countries.
 Vietnamese artists perform at the “We are together as one” festival in Busan. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
The festival featured a concert, a talent contest for Vietnamese citizens in the RoK, a V.KPOP random dance challenge, and games. The concert “We are together as one” was the highlight of the event.
Many noted Vietnamese and Korean music and dance groups, including Ly Ly, Erik, Vinh Khuat, Trang Phap, Koyote, and It’s On gave impressive performances honoring romantic love and love for the homeland.
“I brought to the show my recent compositions like ‘Love songs’ and ‘So long’,” singer Vinh Khuat said.
 A performance of South Korean artists at the “We are together as one” festival. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
The concert drew a large crowd of Vietnamese and Korean young people.
“The concert included many well-known artists. Singer Ly Ly, currently quite famous on Tik Tok, is the idol of many young people. The performance of the Korean band also received enthusiastic applause,” said a visitor.
“I was very happy to see some of my favorite singers here. I hope festivals like this will be held more often, on a larger scale, so that Vietnamese people in Korea, who are far from home, can enjoy good music and miss their homeland a little less,” said another audience member.
A contest on Vietnamese culture was held for Vietnamese citizens in the RoK as part of the festival. The contestants danced, sang, or played Vietnam’s traditional musical instruments. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Yen from Busan University of Foreign Studies, won 200,000 won for her belly dance performance, and Quach Thuy Chi from Busan National University received a prize for her performance of the song “For you”.
“I participated in solo and group dance competitions. My group had 4 people. The contest allowed me to meet a lot of people,” a contestant named Phuong Nghi said.
 The festival includes many fun games. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
The V.KPOP random dance challenge attracted a lot of young people. V.KPOP is a music genre that blends Vietnamese and Korean music with freestyle dancing.
“I participated in a freestyle dance competition. The more performances you participate in, the more chances you have to win a prize. Each performance lasts from 30 seconds to 1 minute. The selected music is usually something popular and trendy. I chose the music I know,” said Bui Thi Thuong, a Vietnamese living in Busan city.
The participation of Vietnamese artists in the festival was a way to promote Vietnamese culture to Korean friends, she added.
 The festival attracts large crowds of spectators. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
The festival made a strong impression on young Koreans like Park Min Hee, who lives in Busan city.
“I came here to support my friends who entered the talent contest for Vietnamese citizens living in Korea. The festival ‘We are together as one’ promoted Vietnamese culture in Korea and the cultural exchange between the two countries. I hope this show will be held more frequently and on a larger scale,” said Park.