Promoting heritage values ​​to make Hue Ancient Capital an attractive destination

Historically, Hue used to be the cultural and political center of Dang Trong during the reign of the Nguyen lords (1558 - 1777) and the Tay Son dynasty (1778 - 1802). In the next period, Hue was the capital of unified Vietnam (1802 - 1945), not only holding the position of political center but also the cultural and religious center of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty.

The inheritance of unique values ​​of indigenous culture combined with the cultural quintessence of historical monarchies and new values ​​formed during the Nguyen Dynasty has crystallized in the heart of the ancient capital of Hue a complex. A huge and extremely diverse system of cultural and historical heritage, including both tangible and intangible heritage and documentary heritage, has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). honors.

Hue Royal Architecture. (Source: Tourism Newspaper)

Land of heritage

Up to now, Hue owns many heritage sites of different types honored by UNESCO: Hue Monuments Complex (December 11, 12 - World Cultural Heritage); Vietnamese Court Music and Court Music (November 1993, 7 – Intangible and Oral Heritage of Humanity; November 11, 2023 – Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) and other Heritage Sites World documentary assets: Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty (July 4, 11), Imperial Records of the Nguyen Dynasty (October 2008, 31); Previously, May 7, 2009 - Documentary heritage of the Asia-Pacific region and Poetry on Hue royal architecture (May 30, 10 - Documentary heritage of the Asia-Pacific region) and Embossed casts on Nine Bronze Peaks at Hue Imperial Palace (May 2017, 14) - Documentary heritage of the Asia-Pacific region. It is worth mentioning that these heritage sites all belong to the Nguyen Dynasty, the last monarchy of Vietnam.

Up to now, Hue owns many heritage sites of different types honored by UNESCO. (Photo: Minh Chau)

In that complex, Hue Monuments Complex is a typical example of planning and construction, a diverse system of royal architecture, including citadels, palaces, mausoleums, temples, pagodas, towns, landscaped gardens... comprehensively reflecting a Eastern capital during its most brilliant period of development.

Despite the devastation of war, natural disasters and the erosion of time, that architectural complex is still quite intact and is being preserved and preserved very well thanks to the efforts of the entire community of people. Vietnam, with the joint efforts of friends from five continents.

Nha Nhac – Vietnamese royal music It is also a unique heritage that Hue still retains. However, until the late 90s of the last century, this heritage was actually in danger due to the increasingly absent team of veteran artists and the lack of performance environment.

Royal music – Hue Royal Music. (Photo: Minh Chau)

The tireless efforts of the team of conservationists in the ancient capital of Hue, the love and enthusiasm of the artisans, and the active support of UNESCO have revived Nha Nhac. This scholarly and noble performance art has not only been restored and performed in the place where it was born, but is also widely promoted in many countries around the world, and is one of the main art subjects. Provincial leaders during Hue Festivals.

As the capital of a dynasty that especially emphasized education and knowledge, Hue is also the convergence of huge documentary treasures. Under the Nguyen Dynasty, the number of compilation and printing works was greater than that of all previous dynasties combined.

Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty (woodcuts for printing dynastic works), Imperial records of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) - The royal documents that the king has reviewed and commented on in ink, or the poetry that has been engraved, inlaid, and enameled on the royal architectural system in Hue are all large and valuable collections of documents. special values.

Poetry on royal architecture. (Photo: Minh Chau)

Through the ups and downs of history, Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty with a quantity of more than 34.600 panels are currently kept and preserved at Archive Center IV (Da Lat); Imperial documents with tens of thousands of sheets are preserved at the National Archives Center I (Hanoi). Poetry on Hue royal architecture (1802-1945) and embossed casts on Nine Bronze Peaks at Hue Imperial Palace are the remains in Hue in the form of "heritage within heritage".

The above heritages are given special attention to conservation and exploitation to promote their value. In recent times, Pearls and Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty have been "returning" to Hue in an impressive way through large-scale exhibitions at the Royal Palace with many different themes, creating opportunities for many people. Tourists and the local community understand more about the rich and unique heritage values ​​of the ancient capital of Hue.

In addition to the above heritages, the rich traditional land of Thua Thien Hue, along with other localities, is preserving two Intangible Heritages that have been honored by UNESCO: Belief in worshiping the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces (December 1, 12) and Bai Choi Art in Central Vietnam (December 7, 12).

Thua Thien - Hue always affirms the value of the ancient capital heritage and Hue cultural identity as the foundation for development, contributing to the socio-economic growth, so that the ancient capital of Hue develops quickly and sustainably since the end of the century. strong and unique.

Up to now, the work of preserving and promoting the value of Hue cultural heritage has entered a period of stability and sustainable development. Hue is considered by domestic and foreign individuals and organizations, especially UNESCO, to be a leading locality in heritage conservation, capable of being built into a standard center for conservation technology transfer in Vietnam. Asia-Pacific region.

Developing the Four Seasons Hue Festival brand

After 24 years of organization, Hue Festival has achieved outstanding achievements, gradually affirming its position, strengthening the Festival brand at national and international level, contributing to creating motivation to stimulate demand. Travel, cultural preservation and socio-economic development of Thua Thien Hue province.

In an effort to become a typical Festival city of Vietnam, Hue Festival 2024 continues to be a unique cultural activity, attractive because of its tradition, impression and humanity when bringing people and tourists to become creative subject and enjoying subject.

Here, there are not only typical art programs representing the imprints of many domestic and international cultures for visitors to participate in, but also royal festivals and folk festivals. ... are painstakingly recreated, preserved, or created into new festivals to suit trends and meet the public's enjoyment needs.

Hue Festival contributes to promoting socio-economic development, making Thua Thien Hue worthy of being one of the major and unique centers of the country and Southeast Asia in terms of culture and tourism, contributing to the implementation of Hue Festival. Successful Resolution 54-NQ/TW of the Politburo on building and developing Thua Thien Hue province to 2030, vision to 2045 with the goal of 2050, Thua Thien Hue becomes a centrally run city on the foundation of preserving and promoting the value of the ancient capital's heritage and cultural identity of Hue, with cultural, heritage, ecological, landscape, environmentally friendly and smart characteristics.

A street festival within the framework of Hue Festival. (Photo: Minh Chau)

Following the success of previous Festival seasons, Hue Festival 2024 will continue to exploit festival chains throughout the year, gradually building a new festival program system. The goal of the Four Seasons Hue Festival brand is to stimulate demand and increase the ability to develop the tourism economy, so the festival has fresh features to meet changes in the public's needs and new trends. tourists.

Spring Festival – Xuan Ancient Capital (January - March) highlights are royal Tet activities, traditional Tet cultural spaces and extremely rich and unique folk festivals, attracting the response and participation of tourists.

Summer Festival – The capital city shines (April - June) with the highlight of Hue International Arts Festival Week 4, contributing to introducing and promoting the direction of building Hue to truly become a typical Festival city of Vietnam.

Autumn Festival – Hue in Autumn (July - September) the focus is on the Mid-Autumn Festival Program with Hue Lantern Festival 7, combining street performances of Lan - Lion - Dragon, display, installation, lantern procession, and experience of the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. tradition, introducing the beauty of Vietnamese culture of playing Mid-Autumn Festival.

Winter Festival – Winter in Hue (October - December) the highlight is Hue Music Week 10 and ends with the Countdown Program saying goodbye to Hue Festival 12 - welcoming the new year 2024.

Recently, Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024 (from June 7 to June 6) with the theme "Cultural heritage with integration and development" gathered nearly 12 art troupes from France, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Japan, China, South Korea and Vietnam have brought to the audience dozens of art programs imbued with the identities of many cultural regions around the world.

More than 565 domestic and international artists, musicians, singers, actors, along with a large number of artists, public actors, students, etc. All participated in showing off their uniqueness. sophistication and diversity of art forms, working hard on stage to bring the audience an artistic party full of cultural identity, expressing the desire for a world of peace, friendship, cooperation for mutual development between nations.

Art programs blend in the ancient space of a ancient cultural capital with 8 heritage sites honored by UNESCO. With 12 main programs, 24 art performances on stages and nearly 10 activities to respond, accompany, display, and exhibit continuously in the province, activities during the Art Festival Week Hue International has attracted a large audience to attend and enjoy. Hue - Festival City of Vietnam is still radiant with green urban vitality, environmentally friendly and sustainable development.