Live and be drunk in the heritage

These days, the people and tourists of the capital are “living and intoxicated” in a series of more than 30 vibrant and unique cultural, artistic and tourism activities. From the sacred Temple of Literature to the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, from the sparkling Hoan Kiem Lake to the ancient streets lined with flags and flowers, Hanoi is conveying a clear message: Heritage is not only for preservation but also for storytelling and inspiration.

Art performance at the opening ceremony of Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2025.

At the beginning of the journey, visitors set foot from the Tam Quan gate leading to Thai Hoc yard of the special national relic Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam, watching a thousand-year-old Hanoi appear in a delicate shape in the series of activities "Heritage Convergence", displaying traditional craft products of the three capitals Thang Long- Hue -Hoa Lu and the Central Highlands provinces. The display rooms are lined up one after another, like a picture of a continuous landscape. Bat Trang ceramics are shimmering in blue glaze, Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlays are sparkling in color, the sound of Ha Thai lacquerware clacking echoes in harmony with the fragrant scent of varnish. In a small corner, an old Thuong Tin embroiderer diligently threads each thread on the fabric, as if "embroidering" the memories of her ancestors a hundred years ago. Here, visitors can also "touch the heritage", some children chatter and practice drawing bronze drum patterns, foreign guests try to play gongs, some students learn to write Chinese characters, clumsy but excited. The sounds of laughter, drums, and bamboo flutes blend together to create a harmony of a familiar yet strange Hanoi.

In particular, the program "Ao Dai on the Heritage Road" further enhances the traditional beauty in the modern. Under the shimmering lights, the Ao Dai flaps gently flutter like a silk river connecting heritage regions. More than ten collections were performed, inspired by ancient Hanoi, dreamy Hue, quiet Ninh Binh and the brilliant brocade colors of the Central Highlands mountains and forests. Among them, the collection "Ao Dai about Ninh Binh landscape" evokes a peaceful countryside picture, with the blue sky blending with the color of rice, along with motifs of boats, kites... like a love song of the poetic land of Trang An. Meanwhile, "Green Bamboo Hue" takes viewers to a place where the sound of the Mai Day folk songs echoes through the shade of green bamboo. On the catwalk, some Hue children walk with models in dark purple Ao Dai, creating a rustic, soulful and profound highlight.

When the program “Red River calls, the great forest roars” began, the festival atmosphere was lit up by the energy of the land and people. The sound of gongs resounded with the music of “Kơ nia tree shadow”, “Chapi dream”, “Linking big arms”... creating a harmony between the plains and the great forest. On stage, the Gia Lai Gong group and the Tay Nguyen Tarzan group “burned” the space with their fiery rhythms. When People’s Artist (NSND) Ro Cham Pheng sang, his voice resounded like the echo of the great forest, telling the story of vitality, pride and resilient beauty of the people of the Central Highlands.

Contribute to building the capital's cultural industry

The highlight of the festival is the Art Program "Heritage Connecting the Era" in the opening night on November 7 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, structured into 3 large chapters, each chapter is a profound interpretation of the common theme. This is an artistic arrangement to fully convey the message of exchange and development based on traditional foundations. The performance begins with traditional folk songs and dances such as Xam, Cheo, A Dao, Hat Van along with Hue Hat Van and Cup Dance, helping the audience clearly feel the origin, affirming that heritage is the core and soul of the nation. Immediately after that, the next chapter, from the above traditional melodies but performed in a contemporary folk style, with the participation of leading artists such as: People's Artist Thu Huyen, singer Tung Duong, singer Kieu Anh, Xam Ha Thanh group, Ca Tru Thai Ha group...

Director of the opening program Pham Hoang Giang said: “Heritage must not sleep in the past, it must become a new vitality, accompany the development of the country and be a source of inspiration for creativity and innovation. Heritage must both preserve cultural identity and become a place to create economic values ​​and be the focus for building a cultural industry for the capital”.

With the above goal, Hanoi is currently actively connecting, expanding its network and strengthening cooperation with many international organizations, experienced cities and prestigious countries in developing cultural industries; meeting the demand for cultural enjoyment and increasingly improving the standards, quality and value of cultural products to create the brand of the Capital and Vietnam in the international arena.

Comrade Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee emphasized: "Recently, Hanoi has issued many mechanisms and policies, implemented resolutions on developing cultural industries on the principle of ensuring harmony between conservation and development, maximizing the potentials, strengths, and traditional cultural values ​​bearing the identity of the capital".

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/hoi-tu-va-lan-toa-di-san-van-hoa-thu-do-ngan-nam-1011528