Washington, D.C. – On June 23, 2012, NOVAL-DC warmly welcomes you to VietFest, the first annual Vietnamese Heritage Festival in the Greater Washington, DC area. VietFest will be an exciting all-day family event celebrating the Vietnamese culture, history, art, food and entertainment at the George Mason University Lot K, located at 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA, 22030 beside the Patriot Center. Come learn about the legends of Vietnam through a 100 feet art and history exhibition. With more than 10,000 expected attendees, the festivities will kick off at 10:00 am with lion dancing and live musical performances; contests and games continuing throughout the day; and ending with the closing ceremony at 8:00 pm.

VietFest will be a pleasure for all the senses--taste the delicious flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, see both traditional and modern Vietnamese fashion, and listen to Vietnamese music from some of the best talents from our community. Wander the festival grounds and you can enjoy the authentic Vietnamese cuisine of our numerous food vendors showcasing the three distinct regions of Vietnam. Alongside the good eats will be opportunities to win prizes, with events including the “pho”-eating, chess, photography and table tennis contests. Come to the event stage at the festival’s center and see the VietFest Fashion Show displaying the latest collections from talented Vietnamese designers. Stay for the evening for the Miss VietFest Pageant to watch attractive Vietnamese women vie for the crown in their elegant traditional long gowns.* The night will close out with concert performances featuring prominent musical guests.

In connection with the celebration of VietFest, we wish to promote civic and community involvement within the Vietnamese-American community by sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for a high school senior, college, or graduate student who has ties to the East Coast and has demonstrated a commitment to serving the Vietnamese American community in that region.** The recipient of the scholarship will be presented during the festival’s awards ceremony.

VietFest welcomes everyone interested in contributing to the first annual Vietnamese Heritage Festival. If you would like to volunteer to help plan the event, be featured as a sponsor, or provide your goods or services as a vendor, please e-mail us at info@VietFest.com or call 202.670.5370. For general information about VietFest 2012, visit http://www.VietFest.com.

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The National Organization of Vietnamese American Leaders of the Greater Washington, D.C. area (NOVAL-DC) was founded on September 1, 2011. NOVAL-DC was seeks to cultivate community leadership, promote civic participation, and foster cultural heritage in the Vietnamese-American community.

*To take part in these events, please sign up at our website at http://www.VietFest.com.

**For more information on how to apply, please visit our website at http://www.VietFest.com.