Delegates press the button to officially open the second World Cultural Festival 2026 in Hanoi.
Attendees included: Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra ; Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van; and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department Bui Hoai Son.
Also attending were Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; leaders and former leaders of the Party and State; and representatives of diplomatic agencies and international organizations.
Delegates attending the opening ceremony.
Connecting cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the second World Cultural Festival is an opportunity to meet and connect cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship, creativity, and dialogue for peace and development. The event is especially significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO, held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel – a World Cultural Heritage site, a symbol representing the historical depth, cultural vitality, and aspirations for peace and prosperity of the Vietnamese people.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered a speech at the ceremony.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the world today is constantly changing. Digital technology , artificial intelligence, and new methods of communication are profoundly changing how people create, receive, and disseminate cultural values, ensuring that heritage continues to live on, be passed down, be created, and become a resource for sustainable development.
Vietnam recognizes culture as both the spiritual foundation of society and a crucial goal, driving force, and resource for the nation. The Vietnamese Party and State continuously strive to build and promote an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity; proactively absorb the finest aspects of human culture, and strengthen international exchange and cooperation so that cultural values are transformed into intrinsic strength, driving the country's rapid and sustainable development.
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"Preservation must be linked to promotion; tradition must be linked to creativity; heritage must be linked to contemporary life; culture must be linked to people and development; and at the same time, we must promote the application of science, technology and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore and promote heritage, bringing genuine cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra expressed her hope that the Festival would contribute to spreading sustainable values, conveying a message of connection and cooperation for mutual development; cherishing, preserving, and transmitting heritage; and continuously innovating to enrich the heritage values of each nation and of all humanity. Through this, the Festival will gradually create a space for international cultural exchange, where the world comes to Vietnam and Vietnam becomes closer to friends from all over the world.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, delivered a speech.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, assessed that the festival's theme, "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future," reflects UNESCO's profound belief, stemming from its fundamental mission of building peace in the minds of every individual. According to him, cultural diversity is the source of inspiration for creativity, dialogue, and mutual understanding – values that the world desperately needs. The gathering of over 50 countries to showcase the essence of their cultural identities and expressions, while sharing the common joy of peace, is a meaningful act that contributes to realizing that noble mission.
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A festival like this offers values that mere policy dialogues can hardly replace: the opportunity to directly experience different cultures through music, crafts, and how cultural values are present in daily life. These experiences can help change perspectives and open up new dialogues,” said Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
At the opening ceremony, the public enjoyed a spectacular artistic program featuring many artists and art groups such as Honorary Professor and Doctor Chu Bao Que, People's Artist Trong Phuc, singers Truc Nhan, Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Hoang Bach, Ha Myo, GOM Show, solo drummer Thu Ha, Thanh Am Xanh Group; Hue Royal Court Traditional Arts Theatre, Bac Ninh Quan Ho Theatre, Trong Dong Group, Tay Nguyen Gong Art Troupe...
The international performing arts groups that performed on the opening night included those from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Peru, and Ukraine.
Artistic program at the opening ceremony of the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi.
A colorful world heritage
The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi, held from October 1st to 4th, is not only a place to showcase the diverse cultures of Vietnam and other countries around the world, but also a space for cultural dialogue, where each nation brings its own unique values and finds common ground in diversity.
The festival features 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, a film screening program with participation from 18 countries, a fashion space with traditional costumes submitted by 19 countries, and the participation of 20 international art troupes; promising to create multicultural musical exchange spaces throughout the festival.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, together with Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang and other delegates, visited the exhibition booths.
The festival features a variety of rich and unique cultural activities. Besides the opening and closing ceremonies, the central event is the World Cultural Village. Within this village, spaces are decorated to highlight the traditional, distinctive, and attractive cultural elements of many countries. The Vietnamese cultural space is a place to introduce the culture and unique handicrafts of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular to domestic and international visitors.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, along with Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang and other delegates, pose for a photo at the international booths.
Within the framework of the festival, there is also the Five Continents Music Festival, which includes artistic performances with the participation of professional artist groups from many countries; exchange programs and introductions to characteristic musical instruments of each country, contributing to strengthening cultural exchange and promoting the musical identity of different nations.
On October 3rd, the "Colors of Five Continents" street festival will take place on the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street, featuring a parade of international art troupes in traditional costumes, along with characteristic music and dances. This event is expected to attract the attention of a large number of people and tourists, both domestic and international.
One of the highlights of the Festival is the "Creative Spreading from Heritage - International Festival Games" area , offering a new experiential space that connects historical and cultural values with technology and creative industries.
Many unique cultural performances in the Opening Ceremony
In the context of Hanoi's increasing assertion of its role as an international cultural destination, the second World Cultural Festival in 2026 is not merely a cultural event but also creates opportunities for cooperation in the fields of culture, arts, tourism, and creative industries. It is also a way for culture to become a bridge between people, between Vietnam and the world, working towards shared values and a sustainable future of cooperation.
At the same time, this is also the direction for culture to truly become a creative economic sector, contributing to the effective implementation of Resolution 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture.
Source: https://hanoi.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien-noi-bat/khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-lan-thu-hai-nam-2026-4261002052745071.htm
