Canada-Vietnam Society celebrates Tet traditional New Year

Canada-Vietnam Society celebrates Tet traditional New Year

Julie Nguyen, director, Canada-Vietnam Society.
(Photo: HG)

The Canada-Vietnam Society (CVS), an association of Vietnamese expatriates living in Canada, held a festive gathering in downtown Toronto on Saturday, January 18, 2020 to celebrate Tet, Vietnam’s traditional New Year.

Guests which included non-Vietnamese Canadians were treated to an array of traditional Vietnamese dishes and a cultural presentation that featured folk music performances such as the lion and traditional gown dances.

Notably present were a number of international diplomats and representatives of international organizations, some from ASEAN and Latin American countries.

CVS Director Julie Nguyen, chair of the Canada-ASEAN Initiatives Working Group, had significantly observed in an earlier official Vietnamese press statement that the presence of international delegates reflected “a growing interest from foreign partners in Canada in cooperating with Vietnam in trade, investment and education.”

The same source mentioned that Toronto Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong had welcomed the celebration of Vietnamese New Year for not only providing “a chance for stronger trade and cultural exchanges…(and) a chance for Vietnamese expats and businesses to meet but also for Toronto and Ho Chi Minh City to expand partnership.”

Ho Chi Minh City is one of Toronto’s official Friendship Cities, established through an agreement initiated by members of the community and endorsed by Toronto City Council.

Members, dancers and staff of Canada-Vietnam Society. (Photo: HG)

Members and guests of Canada-Vietnam Society. Fifth and sixth from left: Michelle Chermaine Ramos and Asli Kahraman of Young Professionals in International Business.
(Photo: HG)