From October 1st to 4th, 2026, the second World Culture Festival in Hanoi, themed "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future," took place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel National Special Historical Site.
The festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and the Hanoi People's Committee, brought together representatives from 50 countries and international organizations. Notably, the program, taking place in the year commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO, further highlighted the message about the role of culture in connecting people, promoting understanding, respecting diversity, and working towards peace and sustainable development.
From the depth of heritage to the rhythm of contemporary life.
The series of activities kicked off with the Opening Night "Gathering of Heritage - Shaping the Future" on the evening of October 1st. On the stage of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the artistic journey took the audience from the traditional cultural values of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups to a space for international cultural exchange.
According to Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the adoption of the Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by Vietnam, sends a clear message: culture is not a luxury, but an essential element of development. Culture contributes to strengthening endogenous power, building the resilience of communities, and creating a foundation for nations to find common ground.
“A festival like this offers something that purely policy dialogues cannot: the opportunity to experience a different culture firsthand – through its music , stories, crafts, and how that culture is present in daily life,” Lazare Eloundou Assomo stated.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
A notable aspect of the festival is its approach to heritage, which goes beyond mere performance and aims to bring heritage closer to the public, especially the younger generation. Traditional elements are revitalized with modern artistic language, demonstrating that heritage is not a static value of the past, but rather capable of adapting, continuing, and accompanying contemporary life.
Folk melodies from all three regions of Vietnam, Hue Royal Court Music, Quan Ho folk songs from Bac Ninh , and the cultural influences of various regions are connected with contemporary music, Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM through the participation of many Vietnamese artists. Alongside these, international art troupes bring their own unique colors, creating a multifaceted and vibrant cultural tapestry.
The art program took place during the opening night (Photo: Viet Hung/ MCST)
The festival's appeal stems not only from its artistic performances but also from the system of cultural experience spaces organized throughout the four days.
Culture becomes a destination for tourists.
45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, a film program featuring 20 countries, fashion spaces from 15 countries, and 19 international art troupes created a rich cultural tapestry, offering a wide range of experiences for the public.
Beyond sightseeing, tourists also have the opportunity to directly experience cultural values through music, cuisine, traditional costumes, films, and cultural exchange activities. Through this, culture becomes an integral part of the travel experience, contributing to the creation of lasting memories of Hanoi and Vietnam for international visitors.
35 food stalls from countries around the world.
As part of the festival, the tour and experience program at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village on October 2nd brought international delegates closer to the cultural life of Vietnam's ethnic communities. Here, delegates learned about customs, traditions, traditional crafts, enjoyed folk art and cuisine, and interacted directly with the people of these ethnic groups.
One of the highlights that attracted public attention was the "Colors of Five Continents" street parade held on October 3rd. With the participation of 15 international art troupes along with Vietnamese artisans and artists, the Ho Hoan Kiem pedestrian street area became an open cultural stage.
The art program and street parade "Colors of Five Continents" took place on the Ho Hoan Kiem pedestrian street.
Traditional costumes, music, dances, and performing arts from many countries create a colorful encounter between cultures. From the stage to the streets, from artists to the public, the distance between performers and audiences is narrowed, creating a natural and open space for interaction.
In addition, the "Concert of Five Continents" program and the "Free Film Screening" activities continue to expand the space for musical exchange between international artists and the Vietnamese public.
Closing one chapter, opening new connections.
On the evening of October 4th, the closing ceremony of "Colors Converge - Hand in Hand Towards the Future" concluded the four-day festival with emotionally rich artistic performances.
If the opening ceremony opened a journey from the roots of heritage to the future of integration, then the closing night was the moment when cultural values converged, spread, and flourished in an emotionally rich artistic space.
The melodies imbued with the soul of Vietnam resonate through the mashup of Phong Nu - Co Doi Thuong Ngan , the medley of Ho Hue - Ly Muoi Thuong - Ly Ngua O , Da Co Hoai Lang … transporting the audience back to a profound and distinctive Vietnam - a land of heritage that remains vibrant in the contemporary flow.
Furthermore, the vibrant colors of international culture continue to be showcased through distinctive sounds and dances from Iran, the Russian Federation, Mexico, Myanmar, Belgium, and more. Each performance carries its own unique cultural story, but when presented together on the Hanoi stage, they create a borderless artistic dialogue.
And when the song "Hand in Hand" resonated with the participation of Vietnamese and international artists, differences in language, geography, and customs seemed to disappear. The artists stood together on the same stage, singing together, creating an image that encapsulated the festival's message: culture is not only where each nation preserves and affirms its identity, but also a bridge for nations to understand and respect each other, and to join hands towards a future of peace, friendship, and sustainable development.
A 3D mapping performance during the closing night of the festival.
A spectacular fireworks display brought the 2026 World Cultural Festival to a close.
After four days, the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi has affirmed its status as a large-scale international cultural event, while also creating another attractive cultural destination in the life of the capital city. The success of the festival is not only measured by its scale, the number of participating countries, or the outstanding artistic programs, but also by its ability to bring culture closer to the public, create experiences for visitors, and contribute to spreading the image of a Vietnam rich in identity, open, integrated, and proactively connecting with the world.
As the four-day festival concludes, the sounds and colors may subside, but the message "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future" continues to resonate, affirming that culture is one of the most enduring bridges connecting people, nations, and countries.
Vietnam.vn
