Happy Streets Festival 2025 in London: spreading Vietnamese cultural identity

On July 5, within the framework of the Happy Streets Festival 2025 - a vibrant annual event in London that brings together more than 20 international communities living in the UK - the Art Troupe of the Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the UK participated for the first time and brought a unique, emotional performance, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

Chosen as the closing act of the first day, the Vietnamese delegation brought a program combining music , fashion, and cultural exchange, including: “Bac Bling” dance performed by BBVTalents. Modern choreography on the music of Hoa Minzy made the stage explode with youthfulness, energy, and a clear Asian identity.

Next was the "Audience Interaction - Vietnamese Culture Quiz". Simple but interesting questions such as "What is the capital of Vietnam?", "How famous is Pho?", "What is the traditional costume of Vietnamese women?" made the audience both excited and curious to explore .

Ao Dai performance at the festival. (Photo: Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the UK)

The finale of the show was the Love Collection performance, founded by 15-year-old designer Anna Hoang. Notably, she was also a resident born and raised in Wandsworth district, taking the audience from folk materials to modern shapes, through each soft catwalk step of the Vietnamese model. The rustic, soulful voice of singer Tran Vo Minh Triet intertwined, moving many viewers.

"I guessed the question about Lunar New Year correctly, I was so excited when the gift was a hand-painted conical hat! It's beautiful and special!", shared Laura (audience member from Bristol).

Meanwhile, Ms Rose Thompson, a retired teacher in Wandsworth, said: “This is the first time I have seen ao dai performed in real life. The colours, patterns and movements are very beautiful and elegant."

“My daughter is crazy about the ‘Northern Bling’ dance. She says she wants to learn Vietnamese dance!”, revealed Mr. Peter Thomas, a resident of Wandsworth.

Interactive performance with the audience. (Photo: Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the UK)

Ms. Agata Zmijewska, coordinator of Happy Streets Festival said: “We are very impressed with the Vietnamese delegation for their professionalism and creativity in performance, especially in the spirit of connecting the community through meaningful interactive activities. We hope to continue to accompany them in the next festivals."

Ms. Hoang Ha, Founder of the Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the UK - head of the performance troupe said: "We not only perform but also want to share a part of the soul of Vietnamese culture - from the conical hat to the singing, dancing and the ao dai. Being warmly welcomed by the audience is a great honor."

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/happy-streets-festival-2025-tai-london-lan-toa-ban-sac-van-hoa-viet-214671.html