The first-ever Francophone Comics Festival in Ho Chi Minh City kicked off on Saturday, drawing crowds of comic fans of all ages, both Vietnamese and foreign.

The reading corner of the event at Sofitel Saigon Plaza was filled with children and their families sitting on couches and on the floor, absorbed in their favorite comic books.

Nearby, booths by Vietnamese and Francophone publishers offering 10-20 percent discounts were also bustling with customers.

Festivalgoers had the chance to meet authors and get their books signed.

The festival also featured an exhibition organized by the Wallonie-Bruxelles International, offering visitors a chance to explore masters of Belgian comic art from Wallonia and Brussels.

In Belgium’s French-speaking community, comic art is regarded as a true cultural institution.

Over more than a century, the contributions of nearly a thousand authors have helped establish Wallonie-Bruxelles as a cradle of comic art.

The festival, themed 'Comics Without Borders,' was organized by the French Institute in Vietnam and the French Institute in Cambodia, in collaboration with The French Publishing Network France Livre, the Wallonie-Brussels Delegation, and key partners in the publishing industry from France, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Taking place from 09:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday, the event featured a full day of activities and exchanges with prominent figures in contemporary comics from multiple countries.

Panel discussions gathered well-known comic authors from many countries, including Clément Baloup, Marcelino Truong, Marguerite Abouet, Vincent Lefrançois, Eddy Coubeaux, Nguyen Thanh Phong, Hai Anh, and Ta Huy Long, among others.

They discussed a wide range of topics, including an overview of Franco-Belgian comics, from classic works to the digital age; comics without borders, seen as a universal language across cultures and memories; understanding comics and their development in local contexts; and adaptations into film, along with intellectual property issues.

Festivalgoers joined workshops hosted by the authors, covering topics such as comic panel layout and visual rhythm; the art of breaking down action into panels; character creation; using dialogue to bring characters to life; and a drawing workshop dedicated to children.

Gilles Guillot, deputy director of the French Institute in Vietnam, told Tuoi Tre News that the event was meant to celebrate cooperation between France and Vietnam, while also highlighting talents from France, Belgium, Cambodia, and especially Vietnam.

“We are here to help support the professionalization of this sector,” he said.

“Through various awards, we have identified many young Vietnamese talents.

“We know there are many more, and we hope to continue supporting and accompanying this field, which is growing rapidly in Vietnam.”

According to him, the first edition of the festival brings together multiple partner countries, including Vietnam, Belgium through Wallonie-Bruxelles, Cambodia, and France, as well as more than 20 publishers.

“Although this is the first edition, it has already been a success for us, considering both the number of participating authors and their outstanding quality, as well as the presence of leading publishers from Vietnam and France,” said Guillot.

“We aim to make it an annual event,” he added.

“The goal is to build a sustainable platform that contributes to the further development of the comics industry.”

Etienne Ranaivoson, French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said cultural cooperation plays an important role in bringing Vietnam, France, and Belgium closer together, adding that the three countries are working hand in hand to nurture creativity.

“We want culture to be a bond between our countries, with more books and comics published in Vietnam,” he said.

“We also hope French authors and producers can be inspired by Vietnam, creating common bonds through culture and comics.”

In terms of business, the diplomat expressed hope that meetings between publishers and comic creators at the festival would lead to more books being published, higher earnings for writers, and further development of the creative industry.

"France is keen to foster and support the creative industry," he said.