Artists join a performance with lanterns in Hội An city. The ancient city and its twin town, Wernigerode, will host the ‘lantern festival’ in Wernigerode, Germany in 2023. Photo courtesy of Mai Thanh Chương

HỘI AN — The ancient city of Hội An and Wernigerode, its twin town, in Germany, will host the third ‘lantern festival’ in Wernigerode on August 27, 2023 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the friendship of the two cities (2013-2023) and promoting ‘green’ growth co-operation.

Hội An said the plan was fixed in an online meeting on October 20, agreeing that the ancient town’s lantern festival will cover lantern decorations in the streets of Wernigerode, art performances, lantern-making skills demonstration, calligraphy and other hand-made trades of Hội An.

The two cities also plan to build a Hội An Garden at the Miniaturen Park ‘Kleiner Harz’ in Wernigerode on the occasion of the lantern festival, while an eco-road or ‘green shadow’ street will be developing in Hội An from next year.

Cultural exchange events have been organised in both cities as part of annual co-operation programmes.

A woman poses with lanterns at a destination in Hội An. The lantern festival is an annual cultural event in Hội An, and the festival will be held in Germany in 2023. Photo courtesy of Hương Giang

In 2019, Hội An artisans also joined the ‘lantern night’ festival in the old streets of Wernigerode, while the German Beer festival was held in Hội An.

Wernigerode helped developed a solar-powered system for public lighting, loudspeakers and lanterns in Hội An in 2018, before sending a donation of 23,600 euros (VNĐ651 million, or more than US$23,000) to support flood and storm victims in Hội An.

An artist draws on a lantern in a demonstration of lantern-making skills in Hội An. Lanterns are one of the different crafts that will be introduced in Germany in 2023. VNS Photo Công Thành

Since 2013, Hội An, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage city in Quảng Nam Province, and Wernigerode have boosted close friendship, technology, education and sustainable tourism.

Tourism promotion images of Wernigerode, the colourful city, are decorated at ticket counters in Hội An town. — VNS