'Bridge' of fruits and vegetables for Vietnamese - French students

The exhibition is held within the framework of the Francophone month in March every year. The 12 photos displayed on the wall surrounding the French Consulate General's Palace on Le Duan Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) vividly depict familiar French idioms, focusing on vegetables and fruits used daily: "Cao bang ba qua tao" (small body); "Co tam artichoke" (easily moved); "Ke chu xa lettuce" (lie, make up stories)...

According to Ms. Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser (second from right), French and Vietnamese both have many idioms related to vegetables and fruits.

Photo: Lan Chi

Opening the exhibition on the morning of March 25, French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser said: "We chose this theme because in French, there are many idioms related to vegetables, tubers, and fruits. This is a vivid and rich metaphor, and can also be considered a historical heritage because many of them were used from the time when farming was the center of daily life." Ms. Pavillon-Grosser emphasized the similarity, "Vietnam is also a country with a rich agricultural tradition and also has many idioms associated with fruits and vegetables such as 'the older the ginger, the spicier', 'a thick orange peel has sharp nails'...".

In particular, the "photo models" are students from primary, secondary and high schools that teach French and French schools in Ho Chi Minh City. The photos were taken when the students participated in the Taste Contest, which is held annually at the end of September, starting in 2022. This contest is organized by the Association of Cultures and Francophone Spaces (CEF), in the spirit of the Taste Week held every October in France, to emphasize the importance of cuisine and agricultural products.

The "photo models" are students from elementary, middle and high schools that teach French and French schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo: Lan Chi

Students from Minh Dao Primary School, Colette Secondary School, Hong Bang Secondary School, Tran Van On Secondary School, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School..., and French international schools Saint Ange, Boule & Billes, La Petite Ecole, Marguerite Duras had the opportunity to exchange and learn about French culture and cuisine through many fun activities such as blindfolded food tasting, making chocolate, making ice cream, taking photos depicting idioms related to vegetables and fruits...

CEF representative, Mr. Jaime Peypoch, commented that the photo collection by Vietnamese and French students together and respectfully exhibited in front of the Consulate General's Palace "is a perfect reflection of the spirit of cooperation and sharing". Recently, Vietnamese schools teaching French and French schools in Ho Chi Minh City have participated in many exchange programs, giving students from both sides more opportunities to meet, improve their foreign languages, and make more friends.

80 Francophone students from Marguerite Duras French International School and Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted performed together at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Photo: Lan Chi

At the exhibition opening ceremony on the morning of March 25, a choir of more than 80 French-speaking students from Marguerite Duras French International School and Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted performed French songs.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-noi-trai-cay-va-rau-cu-cho-hoc-sinh-viet-phap-185250325183127653.htm