Festival for Peace 2024: Special and Sacred Moments

The 2024 Peace Festival is a spectacular art program, combining multiple spaces from the riverbank to the river itself, connecting the North-South axis of Hien Luong Bridge, with the highlight being a rhythmic and dazzling display of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

A land with a strong desire for peace.

This July, I visited Quang Tri province during a time when the province was organizing many meaningful commemorative activities. Our entire delegation had the opportunity to attend the opening art program of the 2024 Peace Festival at the Hien Luong – Ben Hai National Special Historical Site.

This is a spectacular art program, combining multiple spaces from the riverbank down to the river, connecting the North-South axis of Hien Luong Bridge, with the highlight being a large-scale performance by unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) creating a harmonious and dazzling system of sound, light, and visuals.

The sacred meaning of the festival, as its name suggests, is the honoring of the value of peace, conveying the message of peace from the people of Quang Tri, in harmony with the aspirations of the Vietnamese nation and peace-loving nations around the world .

The opening art program of the 2024 Festival for Peace took place at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Historical Site.

Although the war has gradually receded into the past, the wounds inflicted by bombs and bullets still remain throughout Quang Tri province. The province's 72 communes simultaneously have 72 martyrs' cemeteries, including two national-level cemeteries: Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery and Duong 9 Martyrs' Cemetery. Quang Tri is renowned as the most vibrant museum of revolutionary war historical relics, boasting over 500 historical sites and clusters of sites. Considering many criteria, Quang Tri deserves to be honored as a land with a strong aspiration for peace.

The series of festival activities all convey a message of aspiration for world peace.

The 2024 Peace Festival takes place on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Accords on the ceasefire and restoration of peace in Indochina (1954-2024); the 77th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (1947-2024); and in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the country (1975-2025). The festival is also an activity to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace, International Peace Day, and in response to the Year of Peace and International Confidence 2025.

The series of festival activities all carry a message of peace, such as: the "Melodies of Peace" music exchange program; the political and artistic program organized by the Nhan Dan Newspaper in coordination with Quang Tri province with the theme "The 17th Parallel - Aspiration for Peace"; the "Wish for Peace" program held at the flower-releasing dock on the north bank of the Thach Han River and the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel National Special Monument…

Connecting the bridges

In the art program themed " Connecting Bridges, " People's Artist Pham Phuong Thao's performance of the song " A Song by the Banks of Hien Luong River" (composed by Hoang Hiep) was deeply moving. Instead of performing on the main stage of the opening ceremony, she performed on a boat floating down the Ben Hai River.

The Hien Luong Bridge, spanning the Ben Hai River, once became a place of "division and separation," marking the longing and sorrow of people on both banks, and serving as evidence of the country's division for 20 years. The bridge has become a symbol of the determination and aspiration for national reunification of the entire nation.

The song "Bridge Connecting Shores of Joy" (composed by Van An, lyrics by Phan Van Tu) resonated with the audience, touching their emotions and demonstrating the connection between the past and the present.

Notably, for the first time in Quang Tri, nearly 1,000 drone lights were used to create a wide variety of images: from Saint Giong removing his armor and flying to heaven, King Le Thai To returning the sacred sword to the divine turtle, President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence, to the image of a dove, a symbol of freedom and peace.

The image of the dove symbolizes the aspiration for peace.

The opening ceremony of the Festival for Peace concluded with a spectacular fireworks display combined with the lively melody of the song "Joining Hands" ( by composer Trinh Cong Son), bringing a sacred feeling to local people and tourists. At the same time, it ignited faith in a bright future and the aspiration for lasting peace for Vietnam and nations around the globe.

A spectacular fireworks display brought the opening ceremony of the Festival for Peace to a close.

I would like to conclude this article with the meaningful lyrics from the song "Aspiration for Quang Tri" by composer Vo The Hung, performed by singer Tung Duong: "After all, the sky remains a beautiful blue over Quang Tri. We come to embrace each other, celebrating the day of reunification, Quang Tri, oh sacred land. So much blood and sacrifice have blossomed into peace."

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/le-hoi-vi-hoa-binh-2024-nhung-dieu-dac-biet-va-thieng-lieng-2300073.html