The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, a bridge of peace, friendship and creativity

From October 10 to 12, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee to organize the "First World Cultural Festival in Hanoi" at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Center with many unique cultural and artistic experiences from 48 countries around the world.

With the message of “ Peace - Friendship - Connection - Spread”, the festival brings together the cultural quintessence from all continents, bringing the public a rich journey of experiences, from performing arts, fashion shows, fine arts, photography to cuisine and literature. This is considered the largest multinational cultural event ever in Vietnam, where culture is honored as a bridge connecting people, spreading creativity and promoting people-to-people diplomacy in the integration era.

On this occasion, reporters from Tin Tuc and Dan Toc Newspapers (Vietnam News Agency) had an interview with Dr. Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, to better understand the meaning, message and humanistic values ​​that this special cultural festival brings.

With nearly 50 countries participating, this festival is considered an unprecedented large-scale multinational event in Vietnam. In your opinion, what are the highlights and differences of the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi compared to previous international cultural exchange activities?

Dr. Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee shared cultural messages through the festival.

The World Cultural Festival held for the first time in Hanoi is a very meaningful initiative, contributing to the concretization of the policy of promoting international integration in the cultural field. This is not only an opportunity for Vietnam to promote the unique cultural values ​​of the nation to the world, but also an opportunity for us to absorb the quintessence of human culture, enriching the spiritual life of the people.

The highlight of this festival lies in the synthesis and diversity in cultural expressions, from performing arts, fashion shows, fine arts, photography, cinema, literature to cuisine. It can be said that this is something that no other festival or festival in Vietnam has ever had. With the message of "Peace - Friendship - Connection - Spread", the festival has gathered 48 countries and international organizations, demonstrating the spirit of exchange, cooperation and honoring global cultural diversity.

In particular, the festival is public-centric, aiming for high experience and interaction. When coming to Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the audience can not only enjoy music and unique performing arts from all over the world, but can also read translated literary works, enjoy and try making traditional dishes of countries, wear national costumes, or immerse themselves in vibrant folk songs and dances. It is this combination and high level of experience that has created an unprecedented difference, making the World Cultural Festival the most comprehensive, vibrant and influential cultural exchange space ever in Vietnam.

With the message “Culture is the bridge of humanity, creativity is the common language of the world”, how do you perceive the role of culture in promoting people-to-people diplomacy and international cooperation today, Madam?

Culture is the foundation that connects people from heart to heart. Through cultural exchange activities, people from different countries and ethnic groups can understand, share and respect each other better. It is this understanding and connection that creates a strong friendship between nations, contributing to the strong promotion of people-to-people diplomacy. From there, culture becomes a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in many other fields such as tourism, trade, investment, science and technology, etc., contributing to peace, development and common prosperity of the world.

Culture contributes to promoting people-to-people diplomacy and international cooperation in the new era.

In the context of globalization and deep international integration today, culture plays an increasingly important role in promoting people-to-people diplomacy, a soft, emotional and sustainable foreign policy channel. Through cultural and artistic activities, festivals, exhibitions or cultural tourism, people of different countries have the opportunity to meet, exchange and share common values ​​of peace, cooperation and development. It is this connection that has contributed to forming a foundation of trust, expanding partnerships and promoting effective cooperation in many fields.

In particular, culture today not only connects people but also becomes a soft resource, promoting creative economic development. When countries understand and respect each other's culture, they have more basis for comprehensive cooperation, co-creation and development for the common good. It can be said that culture is a sustainable bridge of humanity, a driving force to build a peaceful, humane and prosperous world.

With its large scale and influence, what long-term effects does the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expect this festival to bring, not only in the cultural field, but also in tourism, creative economy and people-to-people diplomacy? As someone who is passionate about international cooperation in the cultural field, how do you see the opportunity for Vietnam to become a destination for global cultural festivals, thereby promoting the image of a dynamic, friendly and unique country, Madam?

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa hopes that Hanoi will become an ideal destination for tourists every autumn.

With the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, we hope to build a cultural brand for the Capital so that Hanoi becomes a unique artistic destination on the world map. Every autumn, the most beautiful season of Hanoi, domestic and foreign tourists will look forward to coming here to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere and experience unforgettable moments.

Not only is it an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture, trade, investment and tourism, the festival also opens up a space for cultural exchange and meetings, helping the public access the quintessence of world art, thereby improving spiritual life and nurturing love of culture in the community.

It can be said that culture is the foundation, the special “language” that has the ability to overcome all border barriers to touch people’s hearts, connecting friends from all over the world. We are very proud to see that, although countries may differ in terms of institutions or political views, with the message “Culture for peace, culture of connection, sharing love”, countries are all enthusiastic to support and register to participate in the World Cultural Festival, which is being held for the first time. Hanoi - City for Peace, UNESCO Creative City will become a meeting place for countries to introduce unique cultural colors, helping the public to admire and clearly feel the diversity and richness of world civilizations.

For Hanoi - the heart of Vietnam, the festival is an opportunity to honor the quintessence of thousand-year-old culture, from the soul of Trang An to unique traditional values. Visitors can enjoy the aroma of Vong village green rice, admire Ha Dong silk, experience traditional handicrafts or participate in games and folk art forms. From these heritage materials, through the creative hands of artisans and artists, cultural industrial products with a contemporary breath have been formed, contributing to the development of the creative economy...

Thank you very much!

Some activities at the Festival:

Many cultural and culinary experiences from countries around the world.

Many domestic and international films were screened at the festival.

With the spirit of “Connecting - Sharing - Spreading love”, the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi is also a humanitarian journey towards communities heavily affected by natural disasters, demonstrating the spirit of international solidarity in solving common global challenges.