HCMC – The French Consulate General in HCMC opened a photo exhibition titled “Lyon – HCMC” on April 22 to mark the 53rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam, with 14 large-format images displayed along the outer wall of the French Residence at 6 Le Duan Boulevard.
The exhibition features urban life in Lyon and HCMC through scenes such as riverside walks, outdoor activities, and markets, highlighting similarities in daily life between the two cities.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of local authorities, Lyon-based companies operating in HCMC, Vietnamese who used to study in Lyon, and members of the French–Vietnamese community.
The event commemorates long-standing cooperation between the two cities, established in 1990, including collaboration between the Confluences Museum and museums in HCMC, and urban lighting support projects by Lyon. Businesses from Lyon are also contributing to local economic development in HCMC.
The exhibition features works by photographer Adrien Jean, who has lived in Vietnam since 2014, and Tony Noël, a Lyon-based photographer of Vietnamese origin.
According to French Consul General Etienne Ranaivoson, the event takes place following the upgrade of France–Vietnam ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in October 2024. He said cooperation between the two countries is being strengthened in economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, with city-level partnerships playing a role.
Ranaivoson also cited ongoing cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and cultural projects, including partnerships involving French companies such as Artelia and Biomérieux, and academic programs between institutions in Lyon and Vietnam.
In a message delivered at the event, Christophe Jacquemin, deputy mayor of Lyon in charge of international and European relations, said the Lyon–HCMC partnership has been maintained for over three decades across sectors including urban planning, economic development, culture, and education, and continues to support exchanges and joint initiatives.
