HCMC – BridgeFest Music Festival 2023, themed “Togetherness Toward a Human Economy,” took place on Nguyen Hue walking street on December 9 to highlight efforts to promote social equality.
This year’s event is co-held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the United States Mission to Vietnam; the embassies of Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Canada; and UK-based organisation Oxfam.
The event featured music and social activities with the participation of Vietnamese and international artists along with 38 social organizations, enterprises, and groups across the country.
Marc Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, stressed the collaborative effort and co-sponsored by the U.S. Mission to Vietnam embodies the commitment to a future that champions equality. BridgeFest is the harmony of music and advocacy, thereby inspiring and empowering the next generation.
“BridgeFest has been contributing to Vietnam’s long-term vision for development that takes humans as a center, promoting equality, environmental sustainability and meaningful life,” said Vu Thi Quynh Hoa, national director of Oxfam in Vietnam.
Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, said that not only governments or large international organizations but everyone also has a responsibility to fix this planet and heal the society with their strengths and capacities, which lies in diversity and in unity.
BridgeFest, formerly known as SEA Pride 2016, a Southeast Asian music festival honoring youth freedom and equality, has been held for seven consecutive years, naming itself as a popular music festival to spread human values.
The event is expected to ride on its success, demonstrating the role of music and action in building a sustainable and equitable future, creating a space that represents concerted efforts for Vietnam’s sustainable development in various sectors such as environmental protection, education, healthcare, culture, gender equality, people with disabilities, women and children.
