The club was founded by teacher and author Le Hoang Phi Yen, who holds the role of Branch President. With a passion for nurturing love of culture from the most familiar and intimate things, Ms. Phi Yen shared: “I cherish this club not only because of my love for Vietnamese culture, but also because of my desire to kindle that love in the younger generation – in my own children and in each student I am teaching. We believe that love of culture needs to be sown early, from when children are still curious about the world.”
Guests and young members listened with enthusiasm to the story about national cultural values.
The Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club was born as a space to connect like-minded souls. Here, exchanges, discussions, photo exhibitions, audio films or literary creation sharing sessions will be held regularly, with the goal of both preserving old values and opening up new and creative ways of expression.
The Club's three core principles: voluntariness - all activities originate from the spirit of volunteerism, sharing and connection of members; respect and preservation - respect traditional cultural values in all forms of expression, while preserving diverse identities; creativity - encourage new initiatives, suitable for the times but not losing the spirit of culture.
Guests share in the panel discussion
Right at the launch, the discussion “Vietnamese Cultural Flow” brought many profound perspectives from professionals such as voice director Dat Phi, actor - Meritorious Artist Manh Dung, sound designer Binh Nguyen. In the conversation, director Dat Phi shared that tradition can only live forever when young people see its beauty. And to do that, the previous generation needs to be the ones to “sow the seeds”, with love, patience and endless creativity in storytelling.
“If you want young people to love culture, they must first know about it. From knowing, it will lead to understanding, then to love. And to let them know, that is our responsibility – the professionals, the elders,” he said.
A corner displaying artifacts reminiscent of ancient lifestyle: pillows, hairpins, earrings, Japanese shirts...
Although it has just been launched, the Vietnamese Culture Love Club has partly touched a growing need in society – the need to understand, connect and be proud of one’s own cultural identity. In the context of globalization, when influences from foreign cultures strongly penetrate the lives of young people, clubs like this act as a “roof” – where young people can return, listen and feel the beat of their roots.
Young people wearing traditional clothes
In recent years, a positive sign is that Vietnamese youth have begun to show clear movements in paying more attention to national culture. From collections of modernized ao dai inspired by traditional fine arts, pop music mixed with folk melodies, to videos sharing knowledge of history, Tet holidays, and rituals on TikTok, YouTube... all show a generation that is proactively seeking cultural identity in its own way. Instead of being rigid or dogmatic, culture is approached in a more intimate and youthful way, but without losing its depth.
And it is at such intersections that the existence of spaces like the Vietnamese Culture Love Club becomes more meaningful than ever. Not only a place to preserve memories, the Club is also a place to inspire new creations, where the seeds of cultural love are sown and grown, from intimate conversations, from the stories of predecessors to the enthusiastic reception of today's youth.
Author - teacher Phi Yen in traditional dress, introducing restored Vietnamese costumes
Recalling a memorable moment at the club's launch, Phi Yen recalled: “When I stood in front of everyone to introduce the Vietnamese costumes, each brooch, earring, and restored Japanese shirt, I felt my heart beat faster. Those were no longer 'display' items - but the crystallization of a golden age, the way of life, the soul of our ancestors in the past. I still clearly remember when I introduced the pillow sewn by Mrs. Tri Hue - the hands that once wove memories of Hue, my heart was filled with an indescribable emotion. Everything was so real, so close, as if the past and present were blending here.”
The birth of the Vietnamese Culture Lovers Club not only marks a starting point, but also a passionate invitation for anyone who is interested in national identity in the new era. Because culture, after all, is still the core thing that helps us find ourselves amidst the many changes of today's world.
