As many as 20 international art troupes from many countries around the world have registered to participate in the 2018 Hue Festival, which will take place from April 27^th to May 2^nd, 2018.

The information was released at a press conference in Hanoi on December 19^th.

Themed ‘Cultural heritages with integration and development – Hue: a destination with five heritages’, the tenth festival will introduce the quintessence of Vietnamese culture and arts, particularly Hue’s cultural heritages and the intangible cultural heritages of humanity recognised by UNESCO.

An art performance taking place in front of the royal citadel during the previous Hue Festival. (Source: viettravel.com)

Aiming to uphold traditional values and showcase modernity, Hue Festival 2018 will focus on events in which people can take part in, according to Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

“Like its previous nine editions, the biennial festival will serve as the venue for cultural exchanges among nations with the participation of many art troupes from around the world,” he said at the press briefing.

Thua Thien – Hue province has five recognised world heritages, including the Hue imperial relic site (1993), Hue royal court music (2003), Nguyen Dynasty wood blocks (2014) and literature on Hue royal architecture (2016).

The 2018 Hue Festival will be held in association with numerous political, historical and cultural events in the country and the province, including the 50^th anniversary of the Mau Than Offensive in Spring 1968, 25 years since the Hue imperial relic site was recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage, and the 15^th anniversary of Hue royal court music being recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It will also celebrate 712 years since the founding of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan (now Thua Thien-Hue province).

The festival will make full use of traditional cultural spaces. The royal citadel is the event’s major hub with six stages showcasing artistic programmes by domestic and international performers. Venues at the An Dinh Palace, Ngo Mon Square, Quoc Hoc Square and around the city and neighbouring districts will also stage performances, parades and street shows.

The highlight of the Hue Festival will be an art programme entitled ‘Van hien kinh ky’ (Culture of the capital city) which will be held by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre to honour the five world cultural heritages in the locality.

Notably, a national Chau Van (spiritual singing) festival will be held for the first time at the festival.

A wide variety of activities will also take place on the occasion, such as an Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dresses) festival, exhibitions, a kite flying show, boat racing and a calligraphy competition.

The biennial Hue Festival creates an opportunity for countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Denmark, Peru, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Australia and Morocco to exchange their culture, enhancing their international cooperation.

In addition, the event will contribute to the socio-economic and tourism development of Thua Thien – Hue province during the process of international integration.

Director of the Hue Relics Conservation Centre Phan Thanh Hai said this is the second year in a row the Hue Imperial Citadel has received the title. The most visited tourist site is Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi.

Hue Festival has taken place every two years starting from 2000, bringing together excellent arts companies with unique performances from across the world./.

VNF/NDO