The Ho Chi Minh Union of Friendship Organisations opened the South East Asian Festival 2010 on June 25, commemorating 15 years of Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN and its role as ASEAN chair this year.

The event attracted over 1,000 students from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries who are studying at colleges and universities in HCM City.

Taking “Integration and Development” as its theme, the Festival features cultural exchanges, fashion shows and booths displaying-through photos, paintings and printed publications-the beauty and fascination of South East Asia’s diverse landscapes and cultures.

A competition testing students’ eloquence and knowledge of the region’s education, culture, society, economics, and diplomacy was also organised.