In three days from October 10 to 12, 2025, the World Cultural Heritage space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel will become a colorful stage, where the quintessence of five European cultures converge at the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi.
Under the coordination of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee, the "first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi" is positioned as a key foreign cultural activity, with the goal of honoring the value of cultural diversity and enhancing friendship and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and international friends.
The event made a strong impression from the first time it was held on an impressive scale: 48 participating countries, bringing 45 unique cultural spaces, 34 international food stalls, 23 domestic and foreign art troupes, 12 publishing units and 22 countries participating in the film screening program. All blend together in the thousand-year-old historical space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, creating a vivid and inspiring cultural picture.
The festival is designed with a series of rich activities, taking place over three days, bringing the public multi-sensory experiences.
The opening ceremony (20:00 - 9:30 p.m., October 10) and closing ceremony (20:00 - 9:30 p.m., October 12) will be a feast of sound and light. With the participation of leading Vietnamese artists such as Tung Duong, Hoa Minzy, Truc Nhan, Hoang Thuy Linh and many international artists, the programs promise to bring unique artistic performances, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity. The highlight of the technology is the grand 3D Mapping projection, turning the Imperial space into a three-way stage, conveying the message "Culture is the bridge of humanity, creativity is the common language of the world".
Taking place on the evening of October 11 (20:00 - 9:20), the art fashion show "Heritage Steps" is considered the soul of the festival. Nearly 100 traditional costumes from participating countries will be spread on the catwalk, creating the richest and most magnificent international national costume performance ever in Vietnam. Each costume is not only a work of art but also a vivid story about the history, identity and spirit of their nation.
From 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. on October 11 and 12, "Cultural Road" will open a journey of international discovery. Visitors can visit nearly 50 cultural spaces of China, Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, France, Iran, Angola, the Philippines... to learn about history, art, language and typical customs. In particular, visitors also have the opportunity to wear traditional costumes of Vietnam and other countries, capturing memorable moments of exchange.
Within the framework of the festival, the international film screening program will continuously serve the audience at the Imperial Citadel Hall (9am - 9pm, October 11-12). At the same time, the round stage will be where Vietnamese and international art troupes will perform special performances such as the Central Highlands gong, Bac Ninh Quan Ho, Cheo, Chau Van along with traditional dances and music from Japan, Russia, Cuba, Mongolia, Indonesia...
The Food Street (9:00-9:30 p.m., October 11-12) will be a paradise for gourmets, where visitors can enjoy typical flavors from all over the world and participate in interesting cooking workshops.
With the motto "Culture is the foundation - Art is the means", the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi is not only a large-scale event but also a bridge to promote mutual understanding and trust between Vietnam and the international community. The event affirmed the attraction of the capital Hanoi - a center of cultural convergence, while contributing to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), towards a world of peace, cooperation and prosperity. The organizers expect this to be the first step to turn the Festival into an annual event of international stature.
The event is open to the public on October 11 and 12. For the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, audiences can register to receive free tickets through the event's official website: https://worldculturef festival.vn.
