On the evening of October 1st, at Thang Long Imperial Citadel , the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - 2026 officially opened with the theme "Gathering Heritage - Connecting the Future". The festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's membership in UNESCO.
Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Also present were Party Central Committee members: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang; and Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Also attending were leaders and former leaders of the Party and State; leaders of central and Hanoi city departments, ministries, and agencies; ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations, as well as Vietnamese and international art troupes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the second 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.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister , 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 and 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.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that this year's festival would be a great success, leaving behind profound impressions and memorable experiences; spreading the values, identity, vitality, and strength of Vietnamese culture; bringing Vietnamese culture closer to the world and the world closer to Vietnam.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, assessed that there is no more suitable space to hold the festival than Thang Long Imperial Citadel – a site where archaeological layers span over a millennium, reflecting the continuous progress of political and cultural life. Over the next four days, 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, 19 international performing arts groups, along with film screenings and fashion shows from around the world will breathe life into this ancient site in ways that its founders never imagined. Celebrating world culture right here, representing the enduring creative journey of a civilization, is a powerful statement about the significance of heritage.
The opening night ushered the audience into a special artistic program, a journey of discovery through the diverse facets of Vietnam, recreated through the performance " Mother's Lullaby ," a medley of folk songs from the three regions of Vietnam, including Quan Ho folk songs from Bac Ninh, Hue royal court music, and the Song of the Southern Land... Beyond portraying the depth of national cultural identity, the program also infused new life, allowing heritage values to continue and shine in contemporary life.
Drawing inspiration from Vietnamese culture, the opening night continued with "Five Continents Convergence"—a vibrant blend of performances from international art troupes: China, Russia, Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Laos, Ukraine, South Korea, and more, affirming a spirit of respect for the diversity of human cultures. Each performance was a cultural slice, helping the audience recognize the unique identity of each nation while deeply appreciating the points of intersection in the spiritual lives of different peoples.
Along with traditional art forms, the opening night showcased "Gen Z Vitality" as folk elements blended with Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM through performances by Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, Ha Myo, Hoang Bach, and others.
The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi will take place from October 1-4, 2026 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site, with the participation of 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, 19 international art troupes with 220 artists from 5 continents).
Festivals serve as bridges to foster friendship, understanding, and trust among nations, working together to build a peaceful, humane, and sustainably developed world; unleashing the wondrous power of culture, connecting people, overcoming all distances and differences, so that no border can separate empathy, sharing, and the aspiration for peace.
Source: https://vtv.vn/ruc-ro-sac-mau-nam-chau-trong-dem-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-2026-100261002060209447.htm
