Hue Festival 2024 emphasizes the spirit of cultural heritage with integration and development.

After 24 years of being held annually, this year's Hue Festival returns with a fresh and distinctive look, highlighting its differences from other festivals in Vietnam.

On the afternoon of May 9th, in Hanoi, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Ministry of Information and Communications, held an international press conference to introduce the Hue Festival 2024 and the Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024 (June 7-12).

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, Nguyen Van Phuong, speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Le An)

Attending the press conference were the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province, Nguyen Van Phuong; the Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province, Nguyen Thanh Binh; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Minh Hang; the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ta Quang Dong; and the French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet.

The event was also attended by representatives from relevant ministries and agencies; embassies of foreign countries in Vietnam; representatives of sponsors; and a large number of journalists from domestic and international news agencies and media outlets.

Speaking at the press conference, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province Nguyen Van Phuong said that over 24 years of organization, the Hue Festival has achieved outstanding achievements, gradually affirming its position and consolidating its brand as a national and international-level festival, contributing to stimulating tourism demand, preserving culture and developing the socio-economic development of Thua Thien Hue province.

A festival showcasing the beauty of all four seasons.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, in its efforts to become a national and international-level festival city characteristic of Vietnam, Hue Festival 2024 continues to be a unique and attractive cultural activity due to its traditional, impressive, and humane nature, empowering locals and tourists to be both creators and beneficiaries.

Here, visitors can not only participate in typical art programs representing the hallmarks of many domestic and international cultures, but also enjoy meticulously recreated and preserved royal and folk festivals, as well as new festivals that suit current trends and meet the public's entertainment needs.

The Hue Festival contributes to promoting socio-economic development, enabling Thua Thien Hue to become one of the major and distinctive centers of culture and tourism in the country and Southeast Asia. It also contributes to the successful implementation of Resolution 54-NQ/TW of the Politburo on building and developing Thua Thien Hue province until 2030, with a vision to 2045, aiming for Thua Thien Hue to become a centrally-governed city by 2025, based on preserving and promoting the heritage values ​​of the ancient capital and the cultural identity of Hue, with its distinctive culture, heritage, ecology, landscape, environmental friendliness, and smart features.

Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Van Phuong, emphasized: "With a four-season festival orientation, the Festival will include traditional festivals from the royal court, folk, and religious to contemporary art, spread throughout the year, in accordance with local realities, convenient for tourists and the public to participate, meeting the public's enjoyment needs, and developing into a regular tourism event."

Accordingly, the Spring Festival - Spring in the Ancient Capital (January - March) is highlighted by activities related to the royal court Tet (Lunar New Year), traditional Tet cultural spaces, and a wealth of unique and diverse folk festivals, attracting the participation of tourists.

The Summer Festival - The Shining Imperial City (April - June), with the highlight being the Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024, contributes to introducing and promoting Hue, aiming to build it into a truly distinctive festival city of Vietnam.

The Autumn Festival in Hue (July - September) focuses on the Mid-Autumn Festival program with the Hue Lantern Festival 2024, combining street lion and dragon dances, exhibitions, lantern processions, and experiences of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, showcasing the beauty of Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival culture.

The Winter Festival - Hue Winter (October - December) is highlighted by the Hue Music Week 2024 and concludes with a Countdown program to bid farewell to the Hue Festival 2024 and welcome the new year 2025.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at the event. (Photo: Le An)

A place to promote the value of cultural diplomacy.

The highlight of the Hue Festival 2024 is the Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024, themed "Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development".

The week promises to offer participants unique and novel experiences in culture, history, and art, bringing together captivating performances by prominent national and international artists, showcasing court music and dance and unique folk melodies; high-quality traditional and contemporary art programs from various continents taking place nightly at stages in Kien Trung Palace, Thai Binh Lau, Thieu Phuong Garden (Hue Imperial Citadel); community stages at Quoc Hoc Monument, 3/2 Park, and throughout Thua Thien Hue province.

Besides the main programs and activities, there are also accompanying activities, support programs, social programs, and many other community cultural activities.

At the press conference, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed that the Hue Festival has become one of the prestigious brand events not only for Hue but also for Vietnam; it is considered an event that demonstrates the vibrant interplay between tradition and modernity, with the cultural colors of Hue, Vietnamese culture and countries around the world.

Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang also pointed out the outstanding significance of this extremely important cultural event: it emphasizes heritage and cultural values, promotes the preservation, honoring, and development of heritage values, fosters unity for peace and national development; continues to honor Hue culture, a place where UNESCO-listed heritage sites converge; not only promotes Hue culture but also promotes and spreads Vietnamese culture with its rich, diverse, and distinctive identity; it has significant importance in creating opportunities to promote cooperation, exchange, and cultural connection between Vietnam and the world; and the event promotes the preservation and development of heritage values ​​and boosts tourism.

Over the past period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently provided maximum support to Thua Thien Hue province, as well as closely coordinating with relevant provincial agencies in successfully organizing the Hue Festival 2024.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang expressed her hope that the success of the Hue Festival 2024 will continue to contribute to the journey of preserving, honoring, and developing the cultural values ​​of Hue and Vietnam.

Affirming that the Hue Festival originated from a Vietnam-France exchange activity in 1999 and continues to this day, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, said: "From 1999 to the present, the province has cooperated with France - a traditional and very effective partner. Therefore, the international element has always been a highlight, a brand that we have diligently maintained for many years."

Here, the French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet, also shared: “Since our first collaboration at the festival in 1999, for the past 24 years, we have always accompanied the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue in honoring the value of cultural heritage. In this year's Hue Festival, the light festival, inspired by Hue's heritage and modern Western technology, is expected to take visitors on a magical and poetic journey.”

Folk dancers from South Korea. (Source: Organizing Committee)

According to the Hue Festival 2024 Organizing Committee, 12 international art troupes from 7 countries around the world have registered to perform at the Hue International Art Festival Week 2024.

This is a gathering place for unique traditional art programs from national art troupes across Asia, such as: the Zhejiang Dance Troupe (China); the URAKAJI Kobugakudan Drum Dance Troupe from Okinawa (Japan); the Sae nyuk Folk Art Troupe, Yangpyeong branch of the Korean Arts and Culture Association (Korea)...

The Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024 will feature a series of main activities and programs over six consecutive days: the Opening Ceremony of the Hue Festival Week 2024; the "Colorful Culture" Street Festival; performances by domestic and international art troupes; the "Trinh Cong Son - Love Found" Music Dialogue Program; the Light Festival; the Beer Festival; the Vegetarian Food Festival and the Lantern Festival; the Tam Giang Water Festival; and the closing arts program of the Week.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/festival-hue-2024-nhan-manh-tinh-than-di-san-van-hoa-voi-hoi-nhap-va-phat-trien-270752.html