For the first time, Vietnamese cinema takes center stage in Greece with a rich, weeklong showcase of films in Athens and Thessaloniki. From May 12 to 21, Vietnamese Cinema Week will present seven fiction features and two documentaries, accompanied by special guests and a cultural tribute to President Ho Chi Minh—all commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Greece.

Screenings will feature a compelling mix of wartime epics, poetic dramas, and human stories from Vietnam’s diverse regions—most of them being shown in Greece for the first time. Subtitled in Greek or English, the films offer a unique window into Vietnamese society, memory, and resilience.

Opening Ceremony – Athens

Monday, May 12 | 19:00
DON’T BURN (Đừng đốt, 2009 | 100’ | Greek subtitles)
Drama based on true events
A Vietnamese mother receives her daughter’s wartime diary—written during her time as a battlefield doctor and found years earlier by a U.S. officer. The diary becomes a bridge of humanity across enemy lines.
Venue: STUDIO new star art cinema, Athens

Tuesday, May 13

19:00 | PEACH BLOSSOM, PHO AND PIANO (2024 | 104’ | English subtitles)
Historical drama with lyrical realism
During the 1946 Battle of Hanoi, a resistance fighter hides weapons with the help of local pho vendors. Through delicate scenes of food, music, and courage, the film reveals the ingenuity of civilians in wartime.

Wednesday, May 14

19:00 | PEACEFUL TRAIN (2025 | 60’ | Greek subtitles)
Documentary
Retracing the events of April 30, 1975, the day of Vietnam’s reunification, this emotional documentary journeys through personal memories and national milestones, questioning the essence of happiness and peace.

Thursday, May 15

19:00 | STORY OF PAO (Chuyện của Pao, 2006 | 98’ | Greek subtitles)
Family drama in rural Vietnam
In the remote highlands, a Hmong woman raised by her stepmother embarks on a quest to find her biological mother, uncovering painful family secrets along the way.

21:00 | THE LEGEND MAKERS (Những Người Viết Huyền Thoại, 2013 | 100’ | Greek subtitles)
Wartime engineering epic
Set in the 1960s, a team of soldiers faces peril to construct a vital oil pipeline running from North to South Vietnam—an untold story of grit and innovation.

Friday, May 16

19:00 | THE FATE (Sinh Mệnh, 2006 | 81’ | Greek subtitles)
Emotional wartime odyssey
A soldier is deployed before fulfilling his mother’s wish for a grandchild. She and her daughter-in-law risk everything to reach him, in a story that blends war, sacrifice, and maternal love with stylized visual storytelling.

20:30 | RED DAWN (Bình Minh Đỏ, 2021 | 95’ | English subtitles)
Women on the front lines
After the Tet Offensive, four women become transport drivers in support of the war effort. Their journey through danger and camaraderie sheds light on the often-overlooked role of women in wartime Vietnam.

Saturday, May 17

19:00 | PEACEFUL TRAIN (2025 | 60’ | Greek subtitles)
Encore documentary screening

20:00 | I SAW YELLOW FLOWERS IN THE GRASS (Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh, 2015 | 103’ | Greek subtitles)
Coming-of-age gem
Set in a quiet village, two brothers navigate love, jealousy, and loss. This lyrical film captures the emotional textures of childhood with breathtaking cinematography.

Sunday, May 18

19:00 | PEACH BLOSSOM, PHO AND PIANO (2024 | 104’ | English subtitles)
Encore screening

21:00 | DON’T BURN (Đừng đốt, 2009 | 100’ | Greek subtitles)
Encore screening of the acclaimed war drama

Tribute to Ho Chi Minh

Monday, May 19 | 19:00
BOOK PRESENTATION & DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
HO CHI MINH – THE JOURNEY OF CREATING A PEACE CULTURE (29’ | Greek subtitles)
Artistic documentary tribute
This special screening honors the life and legacy of Ho Chi Minh, marking 135 years since his birth. The film follows his global journey as a statesman and thinker, exploring his vision for a peaceful, culturally rich Vietnam.
Speakers include Mr. Chu Duc Tinh, Director, Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mrs. Pham Thi Thu Huong, Ambassador of Vietnam to Greece.

Bonus Screening (Sunday, May 18)

Viet Costas – Citizenship: Undefined

Directed by Giannis Tritsibidas
This Greek documentary chronicles the extraordinary life of Kostas Sarantidis, a Greek volunteer who fought alongside the Vietnamese during the First Indochina War. Later known as Nguyen Van Lap, Sarantidis was honored as a Hero of the People’s Armed Forces of Vietnam—the only foreigner to receive the distinction. The film won first prize at the Chalkida Documentary Festival.