World Cultural Festival in Hanoi: A meeting place to connect the elite, spread cultural identity and friendship

The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi ended, concluding the largest cultural diplomacy event in Vietnam in 2025 and leaving a deep impression in the hearts of tens of thousands of people and international tourists.

During the three days of the festival, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage site becomes a "common home," where cultures from all five continents converge.

A place where the best of humanity converges.

Taking place from October 10-12, 2025, the first-ever World Culture Festival in Hanoi, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee, will bring together 48 countries, 45 cultural spaces, 34 food stalls, 23 art troupes, 12 publishing houses, and 22 countries participating in the international film screening program. This is a record number in the history of cultural exchange activities in Vietnam.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung delivered a speech at the closing ceremony.

With the theme "Culture is the foundation - Art is the means," the festival is positioned as a "multicolored celebration" - where culture becomes a common language connecting humanity. Here, melodies, colors, flavors, and emotions intertwine in the open space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a symbol of the thousand-year-old civilization of the capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jonathan Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, speaks at the opening ceremony. Photo: VNA.

In the "Cultural Route" space, visitors can journey through nearly 50 countries, from South Korea, Japan, France, Iran to Laos, Angola, Cuba, Palestine… each booth is a "window" opening to its own unique identity, from traditional costumes, musical instruments, paintings to folk games and ancient rituals...

At the festival, the public can directly experience wearing traditional costumes, enjoy folk dance performances, or participate in international culinary workshops where chefs from four continents share the culinary essence of their respective nations. Locals and tourists can not only taste world cuisine at the food court but also try their hand at preparing and experiencing dishes in the cultural workshops.

In addition, folk performances such as the Central Highlands Gong Music, Bac Ninh Quan Ho, Chau Van, Vietnamese folk dance, along with international performances from Russia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Cuba, Venezuela… created a vibrant musical tapestry, where art became a bridge connecting hearts. The international film program showcased 22 films from various countries, offering the public glimpses into culture, human destiny, and aspirations.

The highlight of the festival was the "Heritage Footsteps" night on October 11th, a sublime display of humanistic emotions and spirit. Nearly 100 traditional and contemporary costumes from various countries transformed the Thang Long Imperial Citadel stage into a multicultural catwalk, where fashion became a language of dialogue between civilizations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the Vietnamese cultural space at the festival. Photo: VNA.

Collections such as “Hanoi in Hanoi” (Designer Vu Viet Ha), “Heritage in Hanoi” (Designer Anh Thu - Ngan An brand), or “Van Yen Weaving” (Designer Nguyen Mi)… tell the cultural stories of the nation through silk fabrics, ancient costume motifs, and traditional patterns.

In particular, the performance by the wives of the embassies of various countries became a particularly captivating moment for the audience. Each wife brought a distinctive cultural slice of her country, expressed through traditional attire and a message of international exchange…

Celebrating the diversity of cultures

Within the grounds of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, tens of thousands of locals and tourists, both domestic and international, immersed themselves in the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. The stages and exhibition booths were filled with music, laughter, artistic performances, and unique experiential activities. More than just an opportunity to discover unique cultures, the festival fostered a sense of pride, strengthened community bonds, and promoted the image of Hanoi – a cultural hub and a melting pot of global excellence.

According to Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the outstanding feature that distinguishes the World Culture Festival in Hanoi from previous international cultural exchange activities is its comprehensive nature, celebrating the diversity of cultures around the world, from performing arts, fashion shows, music, film, fine arts, photography exhibitions, to cuisine and literature…

People in the capital city visit the booths of the countries participating in the festival.

What's special is that the festival emphasizes interaction and the experience of the people, placing them at the center. Locals and tourists participating in the festival not only enjoy music and dances, but also experience traditional costumes from various countries, taste and try making characteristic dishes from different cuisines around the world, and immerse themselves in folk songs and dances…

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Vietnam, Dato' Tan Yang Thai, said he was honored to participate in this event, a convergence of world cultures, and was also delighted to introduce Malaysian culture to Vietnamese and international visitors at this festival through cuisine, costumes, folk games, photo exhibitions, etc.

A highlight of the humanitarian activities taking place during this festival was the charity auction to support flood victims. Specifically, within the framework of the "Footsteps of Heritage" fashion show at the 1st Hanoi World Culture Festival, a charity auction was held to support those affected by the recent floods.

The special items auctioned included: a Hanoi ao dai from the 1930s designed by Vu Viet Ha; the "Golden Lotus" design by Anh Thu, from the Ngan An ao dai brand; the "Yen Vu" design by Nguyen Mi; the "Lien Vu" silk scarf design by Van Hang from the DeSilk brand; the "Lien Vu" ao dai design from the Nguyet Hoa collection by designer Ha Trinh; a special ceramic art piece titled "Mother and Child" by artist Ngo Ba Hoang; a special piece of jewelry from the Huong Jewellery brand; and the painting "Ancient Cheo Dance and Kite Flute Sound in the Golden Field" by artist Ngo Ba Hoang… With the spirit of "mutual support and compassion," the charity auction raised 2.5 billion VND from benefactors to support flood victims.

People in the capital city visit the booths of the countries participating in the festival.

According to the organizers, the charity auction is not only a place to celebrate cultural diversity, but also a place to connect hearts and boundless compassion, a bridge connecting the hearts of people and international friends with those affected by floods, demonstrating international solidarity in jointly responding to global challenges, especially climate change.

The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi has concluded, but it has opened a new door for Vietnam's cultural diplomacy. The success of the festival affirms the goal of establishing the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi as an annual event, a cultural brand for Vietnam's foreign relations, contributing to the promotion of national culture, boosting tourism, the creative economy, and people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening mutual understanding and trust between Vietnam and the international community.

Vietnam.vn