Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao at the press conference (Photo: baoquocte.vn) MITEM this year has the participation of Vietnamese artists for the first time with the bamboo circus play named “À Ố Show”, by Tuan Le, Nguyen Nhat Ly, Nguyen Lan Maurice, Nguyen Tan Loc, and Lune Production Joint Stock Company. Winning the first prize of the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Award in December 2021, “À Ố Show” uses rustic, close-to-Vietnamese props made from bamboo, reproducing unique scenes of life from the quiet and poetic Southern countryside to the fun, vibrant city. Speaking at the press conference, Secretary of State in charge of Culture under the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources Péter Fekete highlighted the significance of culture, affirming that it is both a panacea for the soul, a motivator and a tool to restart life after the COVID-19 pandemic. Talking to Secretary of State Péter Fekete and Ms. Béata Borsós, Director of the Hungarian National Center for Circus Arts, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao expressed that she would work closely with the Organizing Committee of MITEM 8 and the City Circus, to ensure a successful tour of the Vietnamese bamboo circus troupe. MITEM was first organized by the Hungarian National Theater in 2014; so far there have been 170 special theatrical performances from 38 countries performed in front of 53,500 spectators. Hungary hopes MITEM 8 is an event marking the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, paving the way for the 10th Theater Olympics to be held in the country in 2023./.