The event was held by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the event, the Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Madan Mohan Sethi, emphasised that the festival aims to bring the people of India and the people of Vietnam closer together.

Vietnam and India share the same motivation and aspiration for growth and development, he said, noting that the festival originally aimed to promote cultural connection, but now expands to the fields of business, tourism, railways and cinema.

He added that it is time for the people of India and Vietnam to optimise the opportunities brought by their friendship and partnership in areas of mutual interest.

Chairman of the Vietnam - India Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City Huynh Thanh Lap said activities in the festival are designed to help Vietnamese people learn more about Indian culture, people and country, contributing to enhance the two countries’ relations in general and the cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Indian localities in particular.

Besides Ho Chi Minh City, the festival is also taking place in the south central province of Khanh Hoa and Da Lat city in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong from August 25 - 31.

The festival includes traditional art performances and trade-tourism-education promotion activities. About 20 famous Indian artists, film producers, entertainment companies, 30 travel companies, 34 universities and 30 Indian businesses have come to Vietnam to participate in the festival.

One of the main events of the festival is a ceremony to announce the production plan for the film “Love in Vietnam” - a cooperation project between Vietnam and India with filming locations in both countries./.