On Sunday 18/9/2022 Roots of the Future prepared their first event in the city Budweis in Czechia. The program included different perceptions of experiences from traveling in Vietnam, where people also got to know the traditional Vietnamese dining setting and had a chance to get a taste of traditional daily life food. While playing an interactive game Kahoot, it challenged people to get into their competitive spirits and new connections were created during a non-formal game ‚Tell your Story‘.

The presentation was prepared by 2 friends who were courageous to have a month-long trip during the summer to discover new places and try new things. With open minds and curiosity, they traveled all over Vietnam from the south to the north, and along the way they encountered both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Thanks to the authenticity and sincerity of these travelers, people had the opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture on a completely new level.

The Vietnamese-Czech group set out to bring Vietnamese culture closer to local people by sharing travel insights and experiences from Vietnam. Their aim was to compare the experiences of two friends and how their points of view differ based on their individual cultural origins. A knowledge quiz revealed surprising facts about Vietnam and the winners were gifted with tea by Master Vietnam and hand-painted Asian-themed reusable textile bags.

Food is one of the most popular ways to experience another culture. However, in this age of modern technology and social media, people forget about the importance of spending time together. This evening, the Vietnamese feast showcased some delicious dishes that usually cannot be found on the menu, moreover, people were reminded about the importance of social interactions and connections.

A variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes were presented, which according to the Czech visitors were served in a rather strange way. People who had not known each other before came to sit together, they shared food, scooped it up with chopsticks and combined it according to their taste. The organizers have prepared a game ‚Tell Your Story‘ as an icebreaker for people to get to know each other better.

„It was very classy and I even enjoyed the quiz very much. My friend and I ended up in fourth place, so I’m happy for us. And the food was really really good. I was surprised how we suddenly were able to slow down and enjoy the present moment. What’s more, we were even able to talk to people we’d never seen before. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience“ said Martina.

Martin one of the guests commented on the evening „A presentation about Vietnam plus a Vietnamese feast. From now on this is a new standard for cultural events.“

The Roots of the Future project was born out of an initiative to create intergenerational dialogue and cultural exchange between young people and the general public.

It engages people with Vietnamese roots to take an interest in family history and cultural origins. The aim is to find and share common values to transcend the differences between 2 cultures and enrich each other. Roots of the Future is a story of self-discovery, learning and exchange

A big thank you goes to Restaurace Bambus in České Budějovice for hosting us, to the lovely owners of a Bookstore ‚Na Konci Vesmíru‘ in Panská st. in České Budějovice for providing us with technical support & to our sponsor Master Vietnam. ❤