An explosion of Vietnamese culture is scheduled to hit the Washington, D.C. area this June in the form of a heritage festival called VietFest.
Visitors will see a fashion show, musical guests, beauty pageant and eat traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The festival, which will be held at George Mason University June 23, will also include dance performances, a martial arts exhibit, along with a photography, Chinese chess, ping-pong and phở-eating contest.
“The whole purpose is to not only celebrate Vietnamese culture, but to celebrate the talent and share it with the community,” said Nicholas Lepham, VietFest communications director.
Lepham said that since this is the first annual VietFest, he hopes that the populous Vietnamese American community in the area and VietFest’s partnerships with Vietnamese groups will make for a lively crowd.
“I think it’s going to really stand out,” said VietFest Chair Daniel Albert. “This is the first time that anyone has put together an event to extensively showcase our culture.”
Hosted by the National Organization of Vietnamese American Leaders (NOVAL), the festival, expected to cost $60,000-$70,000, has been a longtime coming, Albert said.
“The idea came about because we see that communities have festivals, and we really feel our culture has something to contribute to society,” he said.
The main centerpiece of the festival will be a large wall, similar to that of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial on the National Mall, serving as a type of timeline to provide a history of Vietnam. At least 50 artistic depictions will tell stories of different Vietnamese battles and events going back 4,000 years.
The festival design is divided into three parts — north, central and south — to represent the three parts of Vietnam. Each section will have relevant stations, food, costumes and props to give a sense of the different communities.
Vietnamese pop singers Mai Tiến Dũng and Tóc Tiên will be the featured performers, along with local artists. “It’s a platform for local businesses [and] artists to have a wider audience,” he said. “This is like a grand intro of the D.C. Vietnamese community.”
Local caterers and restaurants will also be included. NOVAL’s goal is to continue mixing with the community to create a bigger festival each year.
This year, NOVAL is expecting between 10,000 and 20,000 guests, Albert said. Tickets will cost $7, but those dressed in full Vietnamese traditional dress will get in for free.
