S.Korea-Vietnam cultural exchange festival eyes revolutionary songs for overseas Vietnamese

Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on Wednesday, Park Han Woong, a representative of the organizing committee, said this idea was inspired by Vietnam's upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of national reunification on April 30.

“The goal is to help the Vietnamese community in South Korea feel the same festive spirit being enjoyed in Vietnam,” Park said.

He added that the organizer would discuss this proposal with participating Vietnamese artists for the 2025 edition of the festival.

This year’s festival will take place on May 3-4 at the First Outdoor Concert Hall in Suwon City, South Korea.

The lineup includes popular Vietnamese singers such as Cara Phuong, ST Son Thach, Ai Phuong, and (S)TRONG Trong Hieu, alongside South Korean stars like Lyn and Punch, who are well known among Vietnamese fans for their hit drama soundtracks including ‘My Destiny’ (My Love from the Star), ‘Back in Time’ (Moon Embracing the Sun), ‘Stay With Me’ (Goblin), and ‘Everytime’ (Descendants of the Sun).

Coinciding with South Korea’s Children’s Day (May 5), the festival will also host family-friendly performances, including magic shows and bubble art for kids at 3:00 pm on both days.

Regarding the choice of Suwon as the festival venue this year, Lee In Sik, another representative of the organizing committee, explained that the city is home to a high concentration of universities in South Korea.

The large number of Vietnamese students studying in South Korea, estimated at around 15,000, is a key audience the festival aims to reach.

Since its inception in 2017 to mark the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-South Korea diplomatic ties, the ‘We Are Together’ festival has been held in a different city each year, including Busan and Seoul.

This rotating model encourages participation from Vietnamese communities across South Korea and promotes local tourism, said Park Han Woong.

Park also emphasized the event’s growing popularity among both Vietnamese and Korean residents, especially multicultural Vietnamese-Korean families, reflecting deepening ties between the two countries.