In her opening remarks, Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the festival is an event for meeting and connecting cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship, creativity, and dialogue for peace and development.
The event is all the more significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivers the opening speech at the festival - Photo: chinhphu.vn/Thu Giang
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, heritage is the crystallization of intellect, labor, and creativity over thousands of years of history, but it does not belong solely to the past. Heritage values are present in today's life and are an important resource for building the future. When the heritage of different nations converges, cultural values are intertwined, enriching the treasury of human civilization.
A performance of Quan Ho folk singing from Bac Ninh on the stage during the Opening Night.
This year's festival holds special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO (1976-2026). The selection of Thang Long Imperial Citadel , a World Heritage site, as the venue contributes to honoring the value of Vietnamese heritage, while also creating a space for nations to share their cultural identities and look towards the future together.
The Deputy Prime Minister stated that Hanoi is a prime example of the connection between tradition and modernity: a capital city with a thousand years of history and culture, yet always dynamic, innovative, integrated, and forward-looking. In the context of digital technology and artificial intelligence changing how people create, receive, and disseminate culture, Vietnam recognizes that preservation must be linked to promotion, tradition to creativity, and heritage to contemporary life.
Vietnam is also promoting the application of science , technology, and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore, and promote heritage, bringing cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation.
The Deputy Prime Minister hoped that the festival would not only leave beautiful impressions, but more importantly, spread sustainable values and convey three messages.
First, we come together to understand each other, and connect to grow together.
Secondly, we must cherish and preserve our heritage for future generations; and innovate to enrich the value of our national and global heritage.
Thirdly, the festival creates an international cultural space – a place where the world comes to Vietnam and Vietnam gets closer to the world; to connect cultures, understand each other better, and above all, to build a peaceful, humane, prosperous, and sustainable world together.
Based on these messages, the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the Festival will become a regular meeting point for world culture in Vietnam; a space for dialogue, creativity, and international cultural cooperation; where heritage values are gathered, disseminated, and together build the future.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the city of Hanoi, and other relevant agencies for their coordination in organizing the festival; in particular, he thanked journalist and artist Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of the General Secretary and President, who initiated the World Culture Day in Hanoi, driven by her passion to connect cultures and make Hanoi an annual meeting point for cultural exchange, sharing, and creativity.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, perform the opening ceremony of the 2nd World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - Photo: chinhphu.vn/Thu Giang
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, emphasized that culture truly comes alive only when it is interacted with, shared, and passed down through generations. According to him, cultural diversity is a source of inspiration for creativity, dialogue, and mutual understanding, especially in a world facing many changes.
Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo speaks at the ceremony.
He assessed that the gathering of nearly 50 countries in Hanoi, showcasing the unique characteristics of their cultural identities and expressions, was a meaningful activity in connecting nations and promoting peace.
According to him, Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the ideal space to host the festival, as Vietnam's thousand-year-old heritage becomes a meeting place for world cultures. Over four days, the festival will showcase international cultural spaces, cuisine, performing arts, film, and fashion.
According to the organizers, the festival brings together 50 countries and international organizations with 45 cultural spaces and 35 food stalls.
On the occasion of Vietnam's 50th anniversary of joining UNESCO, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo affirmed that culture is not a luxury but plays an essential role in social development, building resilient communities, and creating a common voice among nations. He hoped the festival would provide direct cultural experiences, forge new connections, and help the public better understand the shared values of humanity.
As part of the festival, numerous cultural, artistic, culinary, and international exchange activities will continue to take place at Thang Long Imperial Citadel until October 4th.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/lan-toa-3-thong-diep-tu-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-2026-238261001180008964.htm
