The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, took place from October 1-4 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel , bringing together 50 countries and international organizations.
Notably, this year's festival coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO. According to the organizers, beyond the scope of a mere performance event, the festival aims to become a space for multi-dimensional cultural dialogue, where the timeless heritage of different nations shines together; art becomes a common language for understanding and strengthening friendship…
The Thang Long Imperial Citadel shone with the beauty of Vietnamese culture on the opening night of the event.
Photo: Quang Thai
The opening ceremony of the event on the evening of October 1st was attended by the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra ; the Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; the Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van; and the Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department Bui Hoai Son.
Also attending were Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and current and former leaders of the Party and State; representatives of diplomatic agencies and international organizations...
Message from the Deputy Prime Minister : Coming together to understand.
"Heritage is the memory of each nation, the crystallization of intellect, labor, and creativity over thousands of years of history. But heritage does not belong only to the past. Heritage values are present in the present and are an important resource for building the future. Each country, each nation has its own heritage; but when they come together, they blend, creating diversity in cultural expressions and enriching the treasury of human civilization," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed at the opening ceremony.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered the opening remarks at the event.
Photo: Quang Thai
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized three messages of the festival: "Firstly, to come together to understand each other, and to connect to develop 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 sustainably developed world together."
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to journalist and artist Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary and President To Lam, who initiated the World Culture Day in Hanoi, "for her dedication to connecting cultures and making Hanoi an annual meeting point for cultural exchange, sharing, and creativity."
Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre: "Contact to open up dialogue"
In his speech themed "Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future," Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, also emphasized the vision of the initiator and inspiration behind the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi.
"Celebrating world culture right in the place that represents the enduring creative journey of a civilization is a powerful statement about the meaning of heritage," he affirmed.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Photo: Quang Thai
He highly appreciated Vietnam's initiative in marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO with a meaningful event.
"Over the past five decades, our partnership has demonstrated how culture and heritage can bridge gaps and build trust between peoples. A festival like this offers something that purely policy dialogues cannot: an opportunity to experience another culture firsthand – through its music, stories, crafts, and how that culture is present in daily life."
These encounters can shift perspectives, open up new dialogues, and remind us of something often forgotten in parliamentary settings: that behind every heritage tradition lies a vibrant community with valuable lessons for us.
The Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre stated that culture plays a vital role in the development of society, "in the way communities build resilience and in the way nations seek common ground."
"Similarities in diversity"
"The festival is not only a place to showcase the cultural colors of Vietnam and countries around the world, but also a space for cultural dialogue, where each country brings its own unique values and finds common ground in diversity," said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, the program's general director.
This festival brings together many famous young Vietnamese artists such as Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, Ha Myo, Huong Tram, and singer Kieu Anh... along with art groups such as the Vietnam Puppet Theatre, the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre, the Hue Royal Court Traditional Arts Theatre, and the Central Highlands Gong Ensemble...
Hundreds of professional and amateur artists, actors, dancers, and musicians, along with international art troupes, participated in cultural exchanges and performances, contributing to a vibrant and diverse cultural atmosphere.
The delegates pressed the button to officially open the event.
Photo: Quang Thai
The opening ceremony's artistic program, directed and overseen by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, featured 39 performances with the participation of Vietnamese and international artists and art troupes.
Songs expressing pride in Vietnam and its people, such as "Welcome to Vietnam," "Bac Bling," "Made in Vietnam," and "My Dear, Don't Leave ," resonated on stage through performances by Hoang Bach, Chu Bao Que, Hoa Minzy, Xuan Hinh, Tuan Cry, Truc Nhan, Duc Phuc, along with dance troupes and theaters.
The Indonesian delegation presented an instrumental performance of " Vietnamese People Love Each Other" (composed by Chau Dang Khoa). Interspersed were performances showcasing the unique cultural identities of art troupes from China, Laos, Pakistan, Peru, Cambodia, Israel, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, and other countries.
Compared to its inaugural event, this year's festival is larger in scale and more diverse in content, featuring 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, a film screening program with participation from 18 countries, a fashion space showcasing traditional costumes from 15 countries, and the participation of 20 international art troupes.
Over the course of four days, the festival offers a rich array of activities ranging from exhibitions, performances, cuisine, film, fashion, and music to cultural experiences. These activities create a vibrant space for exchange, where countries showcase their identities, heritage, and cultural values, while also opening up opportunities for collaboration in the fields of culture, arts, tourism, and creative industries.
Notable activities
On the morning of October 2nd , international delegates will visit and experience the Vietnam Ethnic Groups Cultural and Tourism Village.
On the afternoon of October 3rd , the "Colors of Five Continents" street parade took place with the participation of 15 international art troupes from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
On October 2nd and 3rd , the Five Continents Concert took place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel's circular stage, showcasing music, instruments, and performance styles characteristic of many countries, combined with modern technology. The program included performances such as Cultural Cosplay - A Crossover of Vietnamese Colors , Audition - Developing with Vietnamese Culture , etc.
At 8 PM on October 4th , the closing ceremony, themed " Colors Converge - Hand in Hand Towards the Future," will conclude the festival with the message: "Closing the festival - Opening a new journey of connection."
Thuy Le
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-5-chau-hoi-tu-di-san-cat-loi-185261001213500967.htm
