On the evening of October 1st, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel National Special Historical Site (Hanoi), the 2nd World Cultural Festival 2026, themed 'Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future', officially opened.
The festival was attended and addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra , along with leaders from central and Hanoi city departments, ministries, ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, artists, cultural researchers, and international delegates.
Heritage belongs not only to the past, but is also a resource for shaping the future.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the 2nd World Cultural Festival is an event for meeting and connecting cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship and dialogue for peace and development. The event is even more significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO and is held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a symbol of historical depth, cultural vitality, and the aspiration for peace.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
"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," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, adding that each country has its own heritage, but when they converge, they blend together, creating a diverse expression of culture.
From folk songs and performing arts to cuisine , crafts, and folk knowledge, all carry within them stories of the aspiration to live and pass them on to future generations. The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that the convergence of heritage is the convergence of people; the convergence of culture is the convergence of the shared values of humanity.
Reflecting on the ever-changing world, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that digital technology , artificial intelligence (AI), and new communication methods are profoundly altering how people create, receive, and disseminate cultural values.
Vietnam consistently identifies culture as both the spiritual foundation and a crucial goal, driving force, and resource of the country. In this journey, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that preservation must be linked to promotion, tradition to creativity, heritage to contemporary life, and culture to people and development. In particular, it is necessary to 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.
Spreading the message from the bridge of international friendship.
This year, the festival brings together participants from 50 countries and international organizations with 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, 18 countries registering to screen films, and 19 art troupes with 220 artists from 5 continents. This is proof of the miraculous power of culture in connecting people, transcending all distances and borders.
Given the scale and significance of the event, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra hopes to spread three strategic messages, including:
First, we come together to understand each other, and connect to grow together.
Secondly, we must cherish and preserve our heritage for transmission, and innovate to enrich the value of our national and global heritage.
Thirdly, the festival creates an international cultural space where the world comes to Vietnam and Vietnam gets closer to the world.
The opening ceremony space was filled with vibrant cultural colors, conveying a message of global friendship and connection.
On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister respectfully thanked journalist and artist Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of the General Secretary and President of Vietnam, who initiated the World Culture Day in Hanoi, driven by her passion to connect cultures and make the capital a regular meeting place for exchange, sharing, and creativity.
The festival takes place from October 1st to 4th in Hanoi, featuring cultural spaces, food, cinema, fashion, art performances, and interactive activities between artists, international delegates, and the public.
Thai Manh
Congthuong.vn
Source: https://congthuong.vn/pho-thu-tuong-pham-thi-thanh-tra-hoi-tu-van-hoa-chinh-la-hoi-tu-nhung-gia-tri-chung-cua-nhan-loai-475319.html
