This year's festival, themed " Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future," takes place from October 1st to 4th, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
At the opening ceremony at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed that heritage is the memory of each nation, the crystallization of intellect, labor, and creativity over thousands of years of history. However, these values do not belong only to the past. Heritage values are present in the present and are an important resource for building the future.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that preservation must be linked to promotion, tradition must go hand in hand with creativity, heritage must be connected to contemporary life, and culture must be inseparable from people. In addition, promoting the application of science , technology, and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore, and promote heritage should be prioritized, aiming to bring authentic cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation.
A model of a mythical bird (Lạc bird) in the opening act of the show. Photo: Giang Huy
Each nation and people has its own unique heritage, but when they converge, they create a diversity of cultural expressions, according to Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Tra. From folk songs, music , folk performing arts, costumes, cuisine, traditional crafts to historical sites, scenic spots, festivals, and folk knowledge, all tell stories about people, culture, homeland, aspirations, and the values that generations want to pass on to the future. Therefore, "the convergence of heritage is the convergence of people, and the convergence of culture is the convergence of the common values of humanity."
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra at the opening ceremony. Photo: Giang Huy
Through the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra hopes to spread three messages. First, to come together to understand each other, and to connect to develop together. Next, to cherish and preserve heritage in order to transmit it, and to create and enrich the value of heritage in each nation and globally. Finally, the event aims to create an international cultural space, striving to build a peaceful, humane, prosperous, and sustainable world.
"We hope the festival will become a regular meeting point for world culture, a space for dialogue, creativity, and international cultural cooperation, where heritage values are gathered, disseminated, and together we can build the future," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, stated that there is no more suitable place to hold the festival than Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Previously, at the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity, he recognized that heritage does not survive by remaining static but by being understood, deciphered, and passed down through generations.
"This festival is a living testament to that principle: Culture doesn't just live in archives. Culture lives when people interact, share, and open their hearts to allow culture to touch their souls," said Lazare Eloundou Assomo.
Singer Truc Nhan performed "Made in Vietnam" on stage at the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony offered an artistic space rich in national identity. The event took place on a stage at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, where the heritage site was set up for a live performance. It began with a light show, recreating the distinctive features of ancient Thang Long. Performers combined drumming and dance with models of the mythical Lac bird.
Inspired by the Vietnamese folk saying, "A betel quid is the beginning of a conversation," the Bắc Ninh Quan Họ troupe performed " Mời Trầu " (Inviting to Chew Betel), showcasing the Vietnamese culture of communication and hospitality. The male and female singers appeared amidst a space decorated with large Đông Hồ paintings, engaging in charming call-and-response singing. Following this, singer Hoàng Bách performed " Welcome to Vietnam ," sending greetings to international friends through modern music.
The performances then returned to the familiar colors of traditional Vietnamese art, from Xam and Quan Ho to folk songs from the three regions. Artists Xuan Hinh, Chu Bao Que, Hoa Minzy, and Tuan Cry performed a medley of " Sitting by the Boat's Edge" and "Bac Bling." When the melody of "Bac Bling" rang out, many audience members sang along, creating one of the most memorable interactive moments.
The Hue Royal Court Art Troupe presents the royal court music with the "Luc Cung Hoa Dang" (Six Offerings of Flower Lanterns) dance . This is a royal court dance combining Buddhist rituals, signifying the offering of six gifts to the Buddhas, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and blessings. The movements are performed to a slow rhythm, creating moments of tranquility between the lively performances.
From Central Vietnam, the program takes the audience to the South with "Song of the Southern Land" (composed by Lu Nhat Vu, lyrics by Le Giang) sung by People's Artist Trong Phuc. The singer, along with the choir and dance troupes, recreates the atmosphere of the rivers and people of the South through a series of songs and dances.
The performance "Song of the Southern Land".
Truc Nhan and Ha Myo explore the intersection of traditional and contemporary music with " Made in Vietnam," "Trong Com," and "Xam Hanoi ." Familiar elements are placed within modern arrangements and performances, creating a transition from heritage to contemporary musical life.
Singer Duc Phuc closed the opening night with the song "Phu Dong Thien Vuong" (composed by Ho Hoai Anh), inspired by the poem "Vietnamese Bamboo" by Nguyen Duy and the legend of Saint Giong . This performance previously helped the singer win the Intervision competition in September 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra visited the booths at the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, following the opening ceremony on the evening of October 1st.
Beyond showcasing Vietnamese identity, the program serves as a bridge connecting the cultural identities of many nations. Compared to last year, this year's opening event has expanded in scale and content, increasing the number of international performances and promoting the combination of traditional art with contemporary performance forms. The use of lighting systems, flares, and fireworks during the climactic moments created excitement for the audience.
The Indonesian artists presented Chau Dang Khoa's instrumental piece, " Vietnamese People Love Each Other ." The Chinese art troupe performed " Under the Same Moon ," using the image of the moon as a symbol of peace and harmony.
The Chinese performing arts troupe performed the dance "Under the Same Moon".
The performance by the Korean National Taekwondo Association was applauded for combining Taekwondo demonstrations with modern K-pop music. The powerful, fast martial arts movements were structured within a theatrical performance, showcasing Taekwondo not only as a martial art but also as an integral part of Korean cultural life.
The Lao artists' delegation introduced Sieng Khen Lao , with its distinctive sound of the Lao mouth organ. This instrument is closely associated with community life, appearing in weddings, festivals, village activities, and artistic performances. In 2017, UNESCO inscribed "Lao Mouth Organ Music" on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguard.
Following the opening night, the festival spanned four days with a variety of activities, from exhibitions and performances to food, cinema, fashion, music, and experiences. The event featured 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, films from 18 countries, and 19 international art troupes with 220 artists from five continents.
The first World Culture Festival in Hanoi, scheduled for 2025, will be organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee. This event will feature a variety of activities including film, fashion, and cuisine, celebrating the reading culture of Vietnam and many other countries around the world.
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