Prague celebrates Day of Vietnamese Culture

A Vietnamese chef dressed in his best whites interpreting traditional Czech folk songs on a battered guitar might sound like the flat punchline to a vaguely racist stand-up routine, but musician Le Quang Dao's aim is quite the opposite.

Accompanied by a mobile caravan serving up a selection of exotic Asian fare, this bonafide eccentric, who goes by the name "Singing Noodles," established his culture-spanning stage show in a bid to bring the Czech and Vietnamese communities of Prague together. Dao is just one of the many acts set to parade their wares at Prague Day of Vietnamese Culture, which takes place on náměstí Míru Thursday, Sept. 8.

A celebration of Vietnamese culture, the event will showcase a wide selection of Vietnamese happenings, including movies, music and art as well as fashion and food, all with the aim of quelling misplaced myths about the tens of thousands of Vietnamese living in the Czech Republic and forming one of the country's largest immigrant populations.

"There are some misunderstandings between the Czech and Vietnamese communities, but these are due to a simple lack of knowledge," says event organizer Zdeňka Dubová. "This event aims to get rid of those misunderstandings and offer an insight into Vietnamese traditions."

The event will open with a series of screenings on Vietnam's history alongside a photo exhibit. Homegrown establishments will also be getting in on the act with local restaurants including Dong Do and Little Hanoi offering visitors the chance to sample a selection of traditional soups, noodles, rice and seafood as well as teas and juices.

Those with a hankering for crafts will be able to choose from handmade wares like calligraphy prints and a selection of bamboo-based gifts sourced from local suppliers.

Dubová says the event will offer Czechs the opportunity to meet with the local Vietnamese population and work through problems that have caused divisions in the past.

"There are definitely problems, such as a language barrier, when it comes to the older community," she says. "But this isn't a problem with the growing younger generation, as they study at Czech schools. We should be celebrating this fact and encouraging integration."

As the festival day progresses, attendees will be able to enjoy a series of free street performances including a traditional lion dance, theater troupes, ancient UNESCO-approved Quan Ho music and a fashion show curated by Prague-based Vietnamese fashion designer Mimi, featuring the finalists from last year's Miss Czech Republic Vietnam competition.

"The Vietnamese community brings a very strong sense of community to the Czech Republic," Dubová says. "They have very strong family values, which I think can enrich Czech society. I think the event will be interesting for both communities."

- Filip Šenk contributed to this report.

Andrew Fenwick can be reached at
afenwick@praguepost.com