Also attending the opening ceremony were: Ms. Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism ; Mr. Vu Dai Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City; Mr. Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Bui Hoai Son, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department.
Delegates attending the ceremony
Among the international delegates was the Director of the Lazare World Heritage Centre, Eloundou Assomo.
Also attending the opening ceremony were leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, central and Hanoi city departments and ministries, ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, and heads of representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam, along with a large number of artists from international art troupes and people of the capital city.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered a speech at the ceremony.
The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, aims to celebrate the power of culture in uniting people and promoting world peace.
The festival features participation from 50 countries and international organizations, with 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, a film screening program with 20 participating countries, a fashion space with traditional costumes submitted by 15 countries, and the participation of 19 international art troupes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed that the 2nd World Cultural Festival 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 held in the year commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to UNESCO and right at Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a World Heritage site, one of the typical symbols of the historical depth, cultural vitality, and aspirations for peace and prosperity of the Vietnamese people; a space rich in meaning for cultures to meet, interact, and together preserve, transmit, create, and spread the profound and meaningful message of "Converging Heritage - Building the Future".
Eloundou Assomo, Director of the Lazare World Heritage Centre, spoke at the ceremony.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra also expressed her hope that the festival would not only leave beautiful impressions, but more importantly, spread sustainable values and convey three messages. Firstly, it should bring people together to understand each other, connect to develop together. Secondly, it should cherish and preserve heritage for transmission; and innovate to enrich the value of heritage in each nation and globally. Thirdly, the festival should create an international cultural space – 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 sustainably developed world.
The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed confidence that, with the participation of countries, international organizations, artists, artisans, researchers, and the community, this year's festival will be a great success, leaving profound impressions and memorable experiences; spreading the values, vitality, and strength of Vietnamese culture; bringing Vietnamese culture closer to the world and the world closer to Vietnam.
Delegates pressed the button to officially open the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi in 2026.
The second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi in 2026 will have the theme "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future".
The festival will become a regular meeting point for world culture; a space for dialogue, creativity, and international cultural cooperation; where heritage values converge, spread, and together build the future.
In his speech at the ceremony, Director of the Lazare World Heritage Centre Eloundou Assomo also shared that the festival's theme directly reflects UNESCO's deepest belief, which stems from its fundamental mission of building peace in the minds of every individual: that cultural diversity is the inspiration for creativity, dialogue, and mutual understanding that the world desperately needs, especially in this turbulent period besieged by war and climate change.
The gathering of over 50 countries at the festival, showcasing the finest aspects of their cultural identities and expressions, and sharing the common joy of peace, is a meaningful act in service of that mission.
“A festival like this offers something that purely policy dialogues cannot: the opportunity to experience a different culture firsthand – through music, stories, crafts, and how that culture is present in daily life. These encounters can shift perspectives, open up new dialogues, and remind us of something easily forgotten in parliamentary settings: that behind every heritage tradition lies a vibrant community with valuable lessons for us,” affirmed Director Lazare Eloundou Assomo.
Some of the performances at the opening ceremony.
Immediately following the opening ceremonies, delegates, along with a large number of people and tourists visiting Hanoi, enjoyed a spectacular artistic program performed by more than 300 professional and amateur artists, artisans, and actors.
With the theme "Convergence of Heritage - Shaping the Future," the program opens an artistic journey to celebrate Vietnam, from the depths of its heritage to the global arena of exchange.
Through its three main parts, the program meticulously blends traditional heritage with contemporary artistic language.
Part 1, "Vietnam in Diverse Colors," fully recreates 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 melody of Bac Ninh.
Part 2, "Five Continents Converge," is a vibrant space showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of humanity, featuring performances from international art troupes (China, Russia, Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Laos, Ukraine, South Korea, etc.).
Some of the performances at the ceremony.
In Part 3, "Development and a Bright Future," the vitality 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.
According to the planned schedule, following the Opening Ceremony, there will be many more attractive cultural activities: sightseeing and experiences at the Vietnam Ethnic Groups Cultural and Tourism Village; a street parade "Colors of Five Continents" with the participation of 15 international art troupes from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America along with Vietnamese artisans and artists; and the "Concert of Five Continents" music festival.
The closing ceremony will take place on the evening of October 4th, bringing to a close four days of spectacular festivities at Thang Long Imperial Citadel – Hanoi.
Minh Thu - Ngoc Hoa
Source: https://cand.vn/tung-bung-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-nam-2026-post823762.html
