Montrealers celebrate Vietnamese culture

Montrealers are out on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park for the return of Les Premiers Vendredis or the First Fridays. This time around the event is collaborating with Festival Viet, hosting culinary delights and live music all in hopes of representing the richness and diversity of Vietnamese culture.

Specialties included dumplings, skewers, banh mi, Vietnamese inspired poutine, fried rice and so much more.

Diana Nguyen, Owner of Hungry Diana (Credit : Felisha Adam)

Diana Nguyen otherwise known as Hungry Diana, will be letting Montrealers have a taste of what she describes as “Fluffy Dumplings”. Her goal is to have Montrealers be open to the culture.

“Being open to trying new foods, even if it’s different to you or it doesn’t look like the norm that you’re used to, just try different types of Vietnamese food, it would mean a lot to me because we put so much heart and soul into it,” she said.

One of the project managers of the festival Phong Le says the main goal of the collaboration is to show, Vietnamese individuals are part of the make up of Montreal, “we’re part of the multicultural diversity.”

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The event also hosted cultural shows, showcasing Vietnamese culture and artists, giving the next generation a platform, “this is their platform to express themselves,” explained Le.

Bahay Collective Artists (from left to right) Lil Water Boi, Mando, Yenny Yuka (Credit : Felisha Adam)

“I think it’s really important and really special, the Vietnamese youth don’t have a lot of like outlets to express themselves. So like just having something on the scale is can be huge,” said performer, Lil Water Boi part of the Bahay Collective, who alongside Mando and Yenny Yuka were on site to let Montrealers listen to their music inspired by Vietnamese culture.

“It’s a good way to really promote our culture to the world and show to everybody in Montreal, who we are and what we got to give,” said Yenny Yuka.