(VOVworld) – Vietnamese-French comprehensive cooperation has grown steadily in recent times, and has especially evolved to a new strategic level this year, with the motto of “Traditional friendship, long-lasting, and comprehensive cooperation in the 21st century”. The closer ties were confirmed during a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh city today to mark French National Day on July 14^th. The celebration was co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations and the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam–France Friendship Association. The latter is acting as a bridge, linking the two countries’ people through a variety of social activities, worth 190,000 USD each year. The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh city and France’s Rhone Alpes region and the Lyon city have flourished. The French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city and the “Muc Tim” newspaper took this occasion to give awards out to 10 winners of a contest about French culture which attracted 500 contestants across Vietnam.