As part of the second World Culture Festival in Hanoi, on October 3rd, the "Colors of Five Continents" street festival took place in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake, bringing together 15 domestic and international art troupes from various regions around the world, along with Vietnamese artisans and artists.
The troupes appeared in traditional costumes, combining music , dance, and interaction with the audience, bringing the festive atmosphere from the stage to the pedestrian street.
The program's content was directed by the Hanoi People's Committee; the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism chaired and directed the Thang Long Puppet Theatre to organize and implement it.
With the theme "Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future," the festival is designed as an open cultural exchange space where traditional Vietnamese values meet and engage in dialogue with cultures around the world.
Speaking at the festival, Mr. Pham Tuan Long – Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism – said that Hoan Kiem Lake is the historical and cultural center of Thang Long - Hanoi. Organizing "Colors of Five Continents" in this space creates opportunities for music, traditional costumes, performing arts, and unique cultural features of many countries to come closer to the community.
Instead of being confined to the stage, art is brought directly to the streets, blending into the lives of locals and tourists. The combination of Vietnamese art with international art troupes transforms the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake into an open cultural stage, where the public can both enjoy art and directly participate in the festive atmosphere.
Mr. Pham Tuan Long, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivered a speech at the "Colors of Five Continents" street festival.
According to the Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this is also a way to promote the value of the special national heritage site of Hoan Kiem Lake in an open cultural space, where tradition meets modernity, art comes closer to the community and connects with international friends.
Mr. Long emphasized that Hanoi, as the capital city with a thousand years of cultural heritage, is always open and proactive in connecting with international friends. UNESCO's recognition of Hanoi as a "City for Peace" and a "Creative City" provides a foundation for the capital to continue promoting the role of culture in the integration process.
"We have always considered culture as a sustainable bridge to bring people closer together. Through culture, we gain a better understanding of history, traditions, ways of life, and the core values that each nation is preserving, thereby sharing and respecting diversity," Mr. Long said.
According to Mr. Long, in an increasingly interconnected world, culture and art have the potential to bring people closer together without necessarily sharing a common language. Each nation possesses its own unique values and beauty, and when these colors are shared and exchanged, they contribute to enriching the common cultural landscape of humanity.
The highlight of the festival was a parade of Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress) combined with traditional costumes from other countries, bringing together more than 1,000 people. The flowing Vietnamese ao dai, along with the colorful traditional costumes of various countries, created a diverse cultural tapestry in the heart of the capital city.
International art troupes bring to Hanoi the distinctive cultural colors of many countries around the world.
Traditional Vietnamese art forms were presented alongside performances by international troupes.
This year's festival features performances by art troupes and cultural organizations from many countries, including Austria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, the Philippines, Spain , Ukraine, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The participation of international art troupes brought a variety of unique art forms and heritages, from traditional music and folk dance to performing arts and traditional martial arts. Accompanying the international troupes were lion and dragon dance performers, artisans and artists of traditional arts from Hanoi, Hanoi women, the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Club, models, and artists.
Present at the festival, Hong Hanh, a student from Dai Nam University, said she learned about the program through videos shared on social media. After seeing her friends post pictures of the festival and international art troupes, Hanh invited them to come and see it in person.
"This is the first time I've seen a street festival of this scale in Hanoi. I was impressed by the foreign artists in their traditional costumes and the atmosphere of interaction between the performers and the audience."
Normally, to see performances like this, you'd probably have to go to a stage or private concerts, but today everyone can stand right on the street and enjoy it together," Hanh told Nguoi Dua Tin.
The female student said that the interesting thing about the festival was that each performing group brought its own unique style, from costumes and music to performance techniques.
"I liked the parade the most because it felt very intimate. People could walk around Ho Guom Lake while watching the performances. There were some performances I had never seen before, so I was quite curious and wanted to learn more about the cultures of different countries," Hanh shared.
The parade route starts from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, passes by Ba Kieu Temple, and ends at the main stage in Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. Along the way, the public can enjoy musical performances, traditional art, and costume shows.
Through "Colors of Five Continents," Hanoi continues to showcase the image of a capital city rich in identity, friendly, open, creative, and integrated. The encounter of different cultures not only creates an art festival in the heart of the city but also contributes to fostering understanding, friendship, and bridges of cooperation between communities.
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ha-noi-hon-1000-nguoi-dua-sac-mau-nam-chau-xuong-pho-204261003203013871.htm
