Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra , along with other delegates, visited the booths of participating countries at the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. Photo: Hai Nguyen
Attending the opening ceremony were Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra; Party Central Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; Party Central Committee member and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang; Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo... along with other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, representatives of central ministries, departments and agencies, diplomatic missions and international organizations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized the role of heritage in connecting cultures and shaping the future.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered the opening speech at the second Hanoi World Culture Festival. Photo: Hai Nguyen
“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 people 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 stated.
Referring to the direction of cultural development, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that preservation must be linked with promotion, tradition must go hand in hand with creativity, and heritage must be connected with contemporary life. At the same time, Vietnam is promoting the application of science , technology, and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore, and promote heritage, bringing cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation.
"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 emphasized.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo - Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre - speaks at the event. Photo: Hai Nguyen.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, assessed the festival as a vivid testament to the power of culture in connecting people and fostering understanding between nations. He argued that heritage does not exist by standing still but is continued through the understanding and creativity of each generation.
"Culture doesn't just live in archives. Culture lives on when people interact, share, and open their hearts to allow culture to touch their souls," he said.
According to Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, the gathering of nearly 50 countries in Hanoi, sharing unique cultural values in a peaceful setting, is a meaningful act for UNESCO's peace-building mission. He also emphasized that Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a suitable space for organizing the festival, as its layers of heritage spanning over a millennium reflect the continuous development of political and cultural life.
Delegates press the button to officially open the festival. Photo: Hai Nguyen
The music program themed "Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future" recreates the identity of 54 ethnic groups through the performance "Mother's Lullaby," a medley of folk songs from the three regions of Vietnam, Hue Royal Court Music, Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, and other traditional art performances.
The diverse cultural colors from art troupes from China, Russia, Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Laos, Ukraine, South Korea, and other countries create a vibrant space for cultural exchange, reflecting a spirit of respect and connection between different cultures.
Representatives from various countries take to the stage at the festival. Photo: Hai Nguyen
Notably, the program features many Vietnamese singers such as Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Hoang Bach, etc. The artists deliver performances that combine folk elements with rap, hip-hop, and EDM, creating a connection between traditional heritage and contemporary music, targeting a young audience.
A spectacular arts program took place as part of the festival. Photo: Hai Nguyen
Prior to the opening ceremony, delegates toured the cultural spaces of nearly 50 countries and international organizations. Here, distinctive features of art, costumes, heritage, and cuisine were showcased, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the cultures of many regions right in the heart of Hanoi.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and other delegates visit the booths of participating countries at the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. Photo: Hai Nguyen
Amidst the heritage site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, experiential activities also open up a journey of discovery into the culture of Hanoi and Vietnam. Visitors can learn about the heritage values of the capital city, while also engaging with the cultures of other countries through cuisine, performing arts, and stories presented in each space.
The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi took place from October 1-4, featuring 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, a film screening program with participation from 18 countries, a fashion space showcasing traditional costumes from 15 countries, and performances by international art troupes.
Visitors browse the booths and experience the unique culture and cuisine of countries around the world. Photo: Hai Nguyen
As part of the festival, international delegates will experience Vietnamese culture, art, and cuisine; 15 international art troupes, along with Vietnamese artists, will participate in the "Colors of Five Continents" parade on October 3rd.
The "Concert of Five Continents" series took place over two days, October 2nd and 3rd, at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, before the festival concluded on the evening of October 4th with an artistic program honoring heritage and spreading a message of friendship and peace.
Reporters' Team
Laodong.vn
Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa/ruc-ro-va-lang-dong-khong-gian-di-san-trong-dem-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-lan-2-1776167.ldo
