The World Culture Festival in Hanoi in 2026 is a festival of encounter and connection between cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship, creativity, and dialogue for peace and development.
The event is even more significant as it is being held in the year commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO and right at Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a World Heritage site.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister , each country and each nation has its own unique heritage, but when they converge and blend together, they create diversity in cultural expressions, enriching the treasury of human civilization.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra , along with delegates and international guests, attended the opening ceremony at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site. Photo: Quang Phuc
From folk melodies, music , folk performing arts, cuisine, handicrafts, to historical sites, scenic spots, and indigenous knowledge… all tell vivid stories about people, homeland, aspirations for life, and values passed down to future generations.
"The convergence of heritage is the convergence of people; the convergence of culture is the convergence of shared values of humanity," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.
Therefore, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, the convergence of heritage is the convergence of people; the convergence of culture is the convergence of the shared values of humanity.
The world today is constantly changing. Digital technology , artificial intelligence, and new forms of communication are profoundly altering how people create, receive, and disseminate cultural values, ensuring that heritage remains alive, is passed on, innovated, and becomes a resource for sustainable development.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra personally experienced traditional handicrafts, demonstrating hospitality and cultural exchange in international spaces. Photo: Quang Phuc
"Vietnam recognizes that culture is both the spiritual foundation of society and an important goal, driving force, and resource for the country," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.
She stated that Vietnam is constantly building and promoting an advanced Vietnamese culture, rich in national identity; proactively absorbing the finest aspects of human culture, strengthening international exchange and cooperation so that cultural values are transformed into intrinsic strength, promoting rapid and sustainable national development.
In that journey, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, preservation must be linked to promotion; tradition must be linked to creativity; heritage must be linked to contemporary life; and culture must be linked to people and development.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and other delegates visit the exhibition space showcasing UNESCO's presence in Vietnam as part of the event. Photo: Quang Phuc.
At the same time, we must promote the application of science, technology, and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore, and promote heritage, bringing authentic cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation.
The 2026 World Culture Festival in Hanoi will receive participation from 50 countries and international organizations, offering a rich variety of experiences on a large scale: 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, 18 countries registering to screen films, and 19 international art troupes with 220 artists from 5 continents.
With the largest scale ever, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that this is a bridge to foster friendship, understanding, and trust among nations, working together to build a peaceful, humane, and sustainably developed world for humanity.
The opening night stage was ablaze with color, featuring artistic performances honoring Vietnam's heritage in the sacred space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo: Quang Phuc - Nhu Y
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his hope that the festival would not only leave beautiful impressions, but more importantly, spread sustainable values.
Through the festival, the Deputy Prime Minister conveyed three messages: gathering to understand each other, connecting to develop together.
Furthermore, we must cherish and preserve our heritage for future generations, and innovate to enrich the value of our national and global heritage.
In particular, 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.
The vibrant international cultural exchange space embodies the message "Gathering for mutual understanding, connecting for mutual development" at the World Cultural Festival 2026. Photo: Hai Ha
"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 affirmed.
On the evening of October 1st, the opening ceremony of the 2nd World Culture Festival in Hanoi, 2026, themed "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future," took place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site in Hanoi. The festival is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee.
The festival takes place from October 1st to 4th at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site.
The spirit of "Convergence of Five Continents" was strongly affirmed with the participation of 50 countries and international organizations, celebrating the diversity of human civilization. Photo: Quang Phuc
The opening night launched an artistic journey celebrating Vietnam, from the depths of its heritage to a global exchange space. The program meticulously blended traditional heritage with contemporary artistic language:
Diverse Vietnam: A complete recreation of the identity of 54 ethnic groups through the performance "Mother's Lullaby," a medley of folk songs from the three regions, Hue Royal Court Music, the song "Southern Land," and the Quan Ho folk melodies of Bac Ninh.
Five continents converge: A vibrant space of cultural exchange from international art troupes (China, Russia, Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Laos, Ukraine, South Korea...), affirming the spirit of respect for the diversity of human cultures.
A vibrant and promising future: The energy of Gen Z is ignited as folk elements blend with Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM through performances by Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, Ha Myo, and Hoang Bach.
Source: https://thanhtra.com.vn/van-hoa-the-thao-BE2162E3A/pho-thu-tuong-gui-3-thong-diep-tai-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-2026-9801583d4.html
