Highlights of the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi
WVR - From October 1-4, the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi offers a diverse range of activities, bringing together Vietnamese and international artists at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
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The second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi in 2026, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, will take place at the special national historical site Thang Long Imperial Citadel, from October 1-4, 2026.
With the theme “Converging Heritage – Shaping the Future”, the festival gathers participants from 50 countries and international organizations, featuring 45 cultural spaces, 35 culinary booths, film screenings from 18 countries, a fashion space with traditional costumes from 15 countries, and 20 international art troupes.
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| The World Cultural Festival in Hanoi offers activities ranging from performing arts, exhibitions, cuisine, cinema, fashion to cultural experiences. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Opening with a journey from heritage to modernity
The opening night will take place at 8 PM on October 1 with the theme “Converging Heritage – Shaping the Future”, directed by Associate Professor Dr. Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The program is crafted by blending traditional Vietnamese cultural values with contemporary artistic language.
The segment “Vietnam in Multicolor” showcases the cultural identity of 54 ethnic groups through scenes like Mother’s Lullaby, folk song medleys from three regions, Hue royal court music, the Southern Land song, and Quan ho Bac Ninh melodies.
The artistic space expands with “Five Continents Converge”, featuring international art troupes from China, Russia, Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Laos, Ukraine, Republic of Korea... Each performance, with its unique national flair, contributes to a diverse picture of world culture.
In the “Development & Glorious Future” segment, traditional materials are combined with Rap, Hip-hop, and EDM, featuring singers Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, Ha Myo, and Hoang Bach.
Alongside the artists, the program includes professional and amateur performers, comprising 60 dance troupe members, 30 dancers, 20 members of the bronze drum group, 50 children from Sao Tuoi tho, 30 members of the Olympia International Choir, 14 members of the Lion Dance team, 20 circus performers, and about 100 extras.
Introducing international delegates to Vietnamese cultural spaces
On the morning of October 2, international delegates will participate in a tour and experience at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
Here, delegates have the opportunity to explore the unique cultural spaces of Vietnamese ethnic communities, discover customs, traditional crafts, interact with ethnic people, enjoy folk art performances, and experience traditional cuisine.
Through tours, presentations, interactions, and experiences, the program showcases the richness and diversity of Vietnamese ethnic cultures, while also providing opportunities for international delegates to explore and connect with Vietnam's cultural values.
“Colours of the Continents” on the walking S=street
One of the festival's highlights is the “Colours of the Continents” street parade, taking place at 4 PM on October 3, 2026.
The program features 15 international art troupes from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Alongside international artists, Vietnamese artisans and artists will showcase Ao Dai and traditional costumes in a space combining stage and Walking Street.
The performances are designed to enhance interaction, bringing art out of the stage space to engage more closely with the public. Through this, the beauty, identity, and unique cultural values of participating countries are introduced in an open exchange space.
“Concert of the Continents” connecting artists and the public
On October 2 and 3, the round stage at Thang Long Imperial Citadel will host the “Concert of the Continents” series.
This is a space where art troupes from various continents perform, showcasing music genres, instruments, and cultural characteristics of each nation.
The program aims to create direct interaction between artists and the public, thereby introducing the diversity of world music and art.
In addition to traditional performances, “Concert of the Continents” also features activities combining traditional culture with modern expression and technology. Cultural Cosplay - Vietnamese Fusion and the performance Audition - Developing with Vietnamese Culture by VTC are activities aimed at bringing heritage materials closer to the younger audience.
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| Cultural booth at the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. (Photo: Ha Anh) |
Concluding with a message of connection
The closing night will take place at 8 PM on October 4 with the theme “Converging Colours – Hand in Hand Towards the Future”, wrapping up four days of festival activities.
The program includes various performances exploiting traditional music materials such as Mashup Phong Nu - Co Doi Thuong Ngan, Ho Hue - Ly Muoi Thuong - Ly Ngua O medley, Da Co Hoai Lang...
Through these performances, the program continues to introduce the values of traditional Vietnamese music in an artistic space featuring both domestic and international artists.
The highlight of the closing night is the song Hand in Hand with the participation of all Vietnamese and international artists. This performance is chosen to conclude the four-day festival journey, emphasizing the message of connection, exchange, and cooperation between cultures.
Held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam joining UNESCO, the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi expands activities from performing arts, exhibitions, cuisine, cinema, fashion to cultural experiences.
The series of programs is organized at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and related cultural spaces, allowing the domestic public to access various international cultural colors while bringing Vietnamese cultural values closer to international friends.
