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The club was founded and chaired by teacher and author Le Hoang Phi Yen. With a passion for nurturing a love of culture through the most familiar and intimate things, Ms. Phi Yen shared: “I nurtured this club not only because of my love for Vietnamese culture, but also because I wanted to ignite that love in the younger generation – in my own children and in each of the students I teach. We believe that a love of culture needs to be sown early, from when children are curious about the world.”
Guests and young members listened intently to the story about the value of national culture.
The Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club was established as a space to connect like-minded souls. Here, regular gatherings, seminars, exhibitions of paintings, photographs, films, and audio, as well as literary creation sessions, will be organized with the goal of both preserving traditional values and exploring new and creative ways of expression.
The club's three core principles are: voluntarism – all activities stem from the voluntary spirit, sharing, and connection of its members; respect and preservation – respecting traditional cultural values in all forms of expression while preserving cultural diversity; and creativity – encouraging new initiatives that are relevant to the times but do not lose the essence of the culture.
The guests shared their insights in the panel discussion.
Right at the launch event, the panel discussion "The Flow of Vietnamese Culture" offered many insightful perspectives from professionals such as voice-over director Dat Phi, actor and Meritorious Artist Manh Dung, and sound designer Binh Nguyen. During the conversation, director Dat Phi shared that tradition can only live on when young people see its beauty. And to achieve that, the older generation needs to be the "seed planters," using their love, patience, and continuous creativity in storytelling.
"If we want young people to love culture, they must first know about it. From knowing, they will understand, and then love. And letting them know is our responsibility – the responsibility of those of us in the profession, the older generation," he said.
One corner displays artifacts reminiscent of old ways of life: cushions, hairpins, earrings, traditional Vietnamese dresses...
Although only recently launched, the Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club has, to some extent, addressed a growing need in society – the need to understand, connect with, and be proud of one's own cultural identity. In the context of globalization, where influences from foreign cultures are strongly infiltrating the lives of young people, clubs like this act as a "shelter" – a place where young people can return, listen, and feel the pulse of their roots.
Young people are wearing traditional clothing.
In recent years, a positive sign has emerged: Vietnamese youth are beginning to show a clear shift in their interest in national culture. From modernized ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) collections inspired by traditional art, to pop music infused with folk influences, and videos sharing historical knowledge, festivals, and rituals on TikTok and YouTube, all demonstrate a generation actively seeking its cultural identity in its own unique way. Instead of being rigid or dogmatic, culture is being approached in a more accessible and youthful manner, without losing its depth.
And it is at such points of intersection that the existence of spaces like the Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club becomes more meaningful than ever. More than just a place to preserve memories, the club is also a source of new creativity, where seeds of love for culture are sown and nurtured, through intimate conversations, from the stories of those who came before to the enthusiastic reception of today's youth.
The author, teacher Phi Yến, in traditional attire, introduces the recreated Vietnamese dishes.
Recalling a memorable moment during the club's launch, Ms. Phi Yen remembered: "Standing before everyone to introduce the restored Vietnamese costumes, each hairpin, earring, and robe, my heart raced. These were no longer just 'display items' – they were the culmination of a golden age, the lifestyle, the soul of our ancestors. I clearly remember introducing the cushion sewn by Ms. Tri Hue herself – hands that once wove the memories of Hue – and my heart swelled with an indescribable emotion. Everything felt so real, so close, as if the past and present were merging here."
The establishment of the Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club not only marks a beginning, but also a heartfelt invitation to anyone interested in national identity in the new era. Because culture, ultimately, remains the core element that helps us find ourselves amidst the many changes in today's world.
