On the evening of October 1st, the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2026 officially opened with great fanfare at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel National Historical Site. With the theme "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future," the event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO.
Attending the opening ceremony were the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra , along with leaders from central ministries and agencies, Hanoi City, representatives from UNESCO, diplomatic agencies, artists, artisans, cultural researchers, international delegates, and a large number of local people and tourists.
A space for multidimensional cultural dialogue and a message of peace.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra visits the Peruvian water booth. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
This year's festival holds profound significance as it marks 50 years of Vietnam's commitment to UNESCO. Beyond the scope of a typical performance event, the festival has become a multi-faceted cultural dialogue space—where timeless heritage shines, and art becomes a common language strengthening friendship and hướng towards a future of peace and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized: “Heritage is the memory of each nation, the crystallization of intellect, labor, and creativity over thousands of years of history. But heritage does not depend solely on the past; its value is present in the present and is an important resource for building the future.”
Each nation possesses its own unique heritage, but when these come together, they blend, creating a diversity of cultural expressions and enriching the treasury of human civilization. From folk songs, dances, music , costumes, cuisine, and crafts to historical sites and festivals... all tell stories about people, countries, and aspirations for life. Therefore, the convergence of heritage is the convergence of people, the convergence of shared values of humanity . ”
Young men and women sing the opening Quan Ho folk songs of Bac Ninh - Offering betel nuts to delegates at the opening ceremony of the 2nd World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2026. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
Highly appreciating the significance of the event, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo - Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre - affirmed that the theme "Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future" reflects UNESCO's profound belief in building peace in people's minds. According to him, cultural diversity is the source of inspiration for creativity and mutual understanding that the world desperately needs in this turbulent period.
“A festival like this offers something that purely policy dialogues cannot: the opportunity to experience a different culture firsthand through music, stories, and crafts. These encounters help shift perspectives, open new dialogues, and remind us that behind every heritage site is a vibrant community with valuable lessons,” shared the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Mr. La Dieu Quang, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, at the Chinese booth. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
Speaking to Dan Viet, Counselor La Dieu Quang of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam said: "In both years of participating in the 2nd Hanoi World Culture Festival in 2026, China wants to introduce a style closely associated with technology and innovation to international friends."
Last year, representatives from our technology partners in Vietnam collaborated with the Embassy to participate in the event, and this year is no different. The space is divided into two distinct areas: one dedicated to technology products and another to culture. In the technology area, we showcased Huawei products, combined with screens displaying videos and images that embody the spirit of "Tech for all."
This year has been a very special year in tourism cooperation between Vietnam and China. As far as I know, approximately 4 million Chinese tourists have visited Vietnam this year. Chinese tourists are extremely fond of Vietnamese culture and tourist destinations.
Conversely, China has also implemented new visa policies, notably the 144-hour visa-free transit policy (or visa-free group tours in some localities such as Hainan Island). Thanks to this, Vietnamese tourists can easily visit and travel in China. Therefore, I am confident that in the coming time, the number of tourists traveling between the two countries will continue to grow strongly."
A grand feast of vibrant art and cutting-edge 3D mapping technology.
A performance by an art troupe from China. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
Immediately following the ceremony, a spectacular artistic program offered thousands of spectators a feast of sound and light. The program opened with a culturally rich Vietnamese setting featuring the charming Quan Ho folk song "Mời Trầu" (Inviting Betel) from Bac Ninh , performed by male and female singers in traditional four-panel dresses and conical hats, accompanied by a welcoming song from singer Hoang Bach.
The program quickly captivated viewers with its interwoven blend of traditional Vietnamese culture—from folk songs from the three regions, Hue royal court music, and the song " Southern Land "—with unique performances from art troupes from China, Peru, South Korea, Laos, and other countries, leaving visitors with many surprises and profound impressions.
Thousands of locals and tourists attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd Hanoi World Culture Festival 2026. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
The opening night concluded explosively with the theme "Development and a Bright Future." The harmonious blend of folk elements with Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM, through performances by Honorary Professor and Artist Chu Bao Que, People's Artist Trong Phuc, along with the vibrant energy from young artists such as Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, and Ha Myo, set the stage ablaze.
The highlight of the evening's visual spectacle was the vibrant 3D mapping projection onto the ancient Doan Mon Gate, perfectly recreating the iconic heritage sites and landmarks of Vietnam.
The opening night concluded with a bang, themed "Development and a Bright Future." The harmonious blend of folk elements with Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM was showcased through performances by artists from Vietnam and other countries. (Photo: Huy Hoang)
According to the Organizing Committee, the 2026 World Cultural Festival will bring together 50 countries and international organizations with 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, film screenings from 20 countries, traditional fashion spaces from 15 countries, and 19 international art troupes. The event will be open to the public and tourists free of charge from October 1st to October 4th, 2026 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
Huy Hoang
Danviet.vn
Source: https://danviet.vn/dem-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-2026-noi-nghe-thuat-tro-thanh-ngon-ngu-chung-cua-nhan-loai-d1463990.html?zarsrc=30&utm_source=zalo&utm_medium=zalo&utm_campaign=zalo
