Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2025: Spreading heritage values in modern life

On the evening of November 7, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site, the opening ceremony of the "First Thang Long- Hanoi Festival 2025" took place solemnly, continuing a series of unique cultural activities lasting until November 16, 2025.

This is a large-scale cultural and artistic event organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , under the direction of Hanoi City.

Attending the event were Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh; Party Central Committee members, alternate Party Central Committee members; leaders of Central Committees, Ministries, branches, mass organizations, provinces, cities and Hanoi city; ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, international organizations, artisans, artists and a large number of people and tourists.

With the theme "Heritage-Connection-Time", this year's Festival aims to spread the values of Vietnam's cultural heritage to international friends, while affirming Hanoi's position as a "Heritage City" rich in identity and creativity.

On the foundation of a thousand-year tradition, Hanoi continues to demonstrate its aspiration to build a unique cultural brand - where heritage becomes a resource and driving force for sustainable development in the era of integration.

Ms. Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of Hanoi People's Committee, speaks. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha said: "The first Thang Long-Hanoi Festival in 2025" is a large-scale cultural and artistic event, an open creative space, traditional cultural values are connected with the spirit of the digital age. Where folk artisans meet with young artists and creators to renew and enrich the Vietnamese cultural identity in the integration era.

The event gathered more than 700 domestic and international artists, actors and artisans, with more than 30 unique cultural, artistic and tourism activities such as: street festivals, art performances, heritage exhibitions, Ao Dai festivals, handicraft performances, seminars, creative business connection activities experienced at many heritage and creative spaces of the Capital such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel; Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam; Hoan Kiem Lake walking street, Hanoi Museum.

The activities are organized to connect community memories with new creative ideas to emphasize the role of promoting national values in developing the creative industry, promoting the Capital to develop to its full potential as a Creative City.

The first Thang Long-Hanoi Festival in 2025 is an opportunity for Hanoi to introduce the image of a civilized, modern and integrated city, where the past and present meet in a spirit of constant creativity.

Through the celebration of heritage, the Festival not only reminds us of traditional values but also affirms the pioneering role of the Capital in preserving and promoting national cultural values and developing creative industries.

The opening ceremony was elaborately staged, gathering nearly 1,000 artists, actors, artisans and professional performing forces from major theaters in Hanoi such as Thang Long Puppetry Theater, Hanoi Cheo Theater, with the participation of many artisans from wards and communes.

The program's goal is to recreate a vivid overall picture of the cultural heritage of Thang Long-Hanoi, in which artisans play a central role, presenting the original identity of the heritages.

Art performances at the program. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

Many typical traditional festivals and legends are recreated in the program, such as: Traditional wrestling, Con dia danh bong (Thanh Liet ward), Cheo Tau singing and dancing (O Dien commune), Bai Bong singing and dancing (Phu Xuyen commune), Giao Long dance (Viet Hung ward), Ai Lao dance (Phuc Loi ward) and sitting tug of war (Long Bien ward).

Each performance is staged to ensure the core spirit of the heritage is preserved, giving the audience an experience that is both authentic and emotional.

The opening ceremony's art program, titled "Heritage-Connection-Time," is divided into three chapters corresponding to the Festival's general theme.

Chapter I: "Heritage" recreates the flow of history, the birth and development of the cultural heritage of Thang Long-Hanoi, with the participation of famous artists such as People's Artist Thu Huyen, Meritorious Artist Van Ty, Mai Tuyet Hoa and singer Tung Duong, on the background of traditional Xam and Trong Quan melodies.

Chapter II: "Heritage Connection" demonstrates the spread of cultural quintessence, connecting domestic and international regions through contemporary folk performances such as: Cheo, Xam, Ca Tru, Hat Van Hue - Cup Dance.

Chapter III: "The Era" affirms the present and shapes the future, demonstrating the spirit of creating new things on the basis of preserving the old so that Vietnamese cultural values can continuously spread.

The opening ceremony gathered Vietnam's leading artists such as People's Artist Thu Huyen, Meritorious Artist Van Ty, singer Kieu Anh, Trong Tan, Tung Duong, Anh Tu, Meritorious Artist Dieu Hang, Meritorious Artist Nhu Huynh, along with the Xam Ha Thanh group and the Ca Tru Thai Ha guild.

Under the direction of prestigious directors and choreographers, the program becomes a comprehensive artistic picture, where music, images, light and movement harmonize to create a cultural space imbued with the spirit of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The first Thang Long-Hanoi Festival in 2025 is not only a cultural activity, but also a space for extensive international exchange. This is an opportunity for the capital to affirm its position as a center of creative culture, connecting with heritage cities and creative cities in the UNESCO Network. The highlight of this year's Festival is the orientation of linking heritage with the development of cultural industries, creating a foundation for creative tourism and knowledge economy. Hanoi aims to exploit rich heritage resources to develop sustainable tourism, connecting historical relics with modern technology, creating cultural products typical of the capital.

The organizers hope that the Festival will not only stop at a grand event but will become a series of annual, strategic activities, contributing to forming a "new creative cycle" for Hanoi culture.

After the Festival ends, performances, exhibitions and heritage introductions will be maintained periodically to create an open cultural space, helping visitors and people have the opportunity to experience heritage in daily life.

The opening ceremony of the "First Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2025" is considered an important stepping stone in the process of building and developing the capital's cultural industry.

The event not only honors heritage, but also demonstrates the vision of a creative and integrated Hanoi, where heritage is not only preserved but also becomes a resource for socio-economic development, contributing to bringing Hanoi's image closer to international friends./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/festival-thang-long-ha-noi-2025-lan-toa-gia-tri-di-san-trong-nhip-song-thoi-dai-post1075706.vnp