The Belgian film La Fee (The Fairy) will be screened on March 23 at the Francophone Film Festival. Photo www.nouvelobs.com

HA NOI (VNS)– Viet Nam will once again honour the French language through a wide range of cultural activities to celebrate International Francophone Day which falls on next Wednesday.

"It's an opportunity for us to honour the values of solidarity and respect for cultural differences," said Anissa Barrak, Asia-Pacific director of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF).

A Francophone Film Festival showcasing the cultural diversity of the Francophonie, will kick off tomorrow (Mar 15) in Ha Noi with the French film Tomboy as part of a national celebration of this month-long event. The festival will present 12 films in different genres – including documentary and animation - from nine countries: Viet Nam, France, Canada, Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium, Benin, Egypt and Senegal.

All the entries will be screened with Vietnamese subtitles, while the Vietnamese movie will have French subtitles.

A festival cultural day will be held at the Ha Noi University on Nguyen Trai Road this Saturday from 10am to 4pm, gathering together lovers of French culture. All are invited enjoy a 20m cake to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ha Noi's Agency of the Universities of Francophonie. The cake has been recognised by Viet Nam Guinness Records as the country's biggest ever cake. On the same day, the public will also watch performances of French music performed by Vietnamese students.

An official ceremony will take place next Wednesday to celebrate the 44th International Francophone Day at the Government's Guesthouse on Le Thach Street.

Diverse cultural events will also be held at l'Espace, the French cultural centre in Ha Noi, including a French fashion performance and exhibition held next Wednesday, followed by a concert from French singer Jesers on March 27.

A wide range of other cultural activities will also be organised in Hue, Vinh, HCM City, Can Tho, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Hoa Binh.

Viet Nam was one of the founder countries of the Francophonie Organisation in 1970.

Over the last year, the OIF has maintained an active co-operation with Viet Nam featuring the exchange of training and technical expertise in a number of fields.

French is spoken by 220 million people across the world in 77 countries and governments of the OIF. -- VNS