On the evening of October 4th, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site, the Closing Ceremony of the 2nd Hanoi World Culture Festival – 2026 was held, concluding four days of vibrant cultural exchange and leaving many lasting impressions on the people of Hanoi, domestic and international tourists.
Attending the closing ceremony were Central Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh; Central Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; and Central Committee member and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Central mass organizations Pham Tat Thang.
Also attending were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Truong Viet Dung; ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vietnam; artists, artisans and a large number of Hanoi residents.
Promoting the role of culture in peace, development, and human progress.
A convergence of diverse cultures.
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the artistic program consisting of two parts, "Colors Meet" and "Greetings from Vietnam," featuring international art troupes and many Vietnamese artists.
The program opened with "Colors Meet," where sounds and dances from Iran , the Russian Federation, Mexico, Myanmar, and Belgium, along with the youthful energy of Vietnamese artists, created a vibrant and diverse stage.
On stage, each nation brings its own unique flavor, but linguistic and traditional differences are bridged by music and performing arts. Melodies, rhythms, and stage movements blend together, creating an open artistic space where cultures meet in a spirit of respect and sharing.
If "Colors Meet" is a gathering of cultures, then "Greetings from Vietnam" is the host country's introduction to international friends.
The program takes the audience on an artistic journey from its origins, through heritage regions to contemporary Vietnam. Traditional music and art forms from various regions are presented in a new performance space, creating a journey that is both rich in identity and highly creative.
Through this, Vietnam emerges in the greeting to international friends as a country rich in cultural traditions, with profound heritage, dynamic, creative, open, and proactive in connecting with the world.
The intermingling of Vietnamese and international art in the closing ceremony also highlighted an important value of the Festival: culture is not just for showcasing, but also for dialogue. When art becomes a common language, differences in borders, languages, or customs can be bridged through empathy and understanding.
From cultural convergence to lasting connections
The second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi is all the more significant as it coincides with Vietnam's 50th anniversary of joining UNESCO.
This milestone marks half a century of Vietnam's journey from a country emerging from war to an active, responsible member, increasingly proactively contributing initiatives to common issues of UNESCO and the international community.
Throughout this journey, culture increasingly affirms its role as a bridge between nations, contributing to enhanced understanding, building trust, and fostering friendship among peoples. Encounters through heritage, art, film, cuisine, or creative activities can open up new connections, from people-to-people exchanges to collaborations between organizations and creative communities.
Building on the success of the two previous editions, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the city of Hanoi, UNESCO, diplomatic missions, and international partners to gradually develop the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi into a prestigious international cultural exchange and cooperation platform, held annually, with its own unique identity, and producing concrete collaborative results each year.
Through this, Hanoi not only serves as a venue for the festival but also aims to become a regular meeting point for cultures, where initiatives related to heritage, creativity, cultural industries, and sustainable development are connected and disseminated.
Concluding four days of gathering, the 2nd World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, originating from Hanoi – the City for Peace – not only left behind vibrant images of a multi-colored cultural space but also opened up connections that transcend borders.
Because when cultures coexist, share, and engage in dialogue, differences cease to be barriers and become resources that enrich humanity's spiritual life. Drawing from the heritage of the past, culture creates encounters in the present and contributes to building a future of understanding, friendship, peace, and development.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/chinh-polit/hoi-tu-nhung-sac-mau-van-hoa-ket-noi-tuong-lai-271501.html
