Artists perform the Ban Sóc (Royal calendar delivery) ceremony, the event that kings under Nguyễn Dynasty organised to distribute calendars for royal mandarins, at Ngọ Môn (Noon Gate) in Huế City. The central province of Thừa Thiên Huế will host the Huế Festival through 2023. Photo courtesy of Thừa Thiên Huế Province

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ – The Huế Festival, held every other year in the central province, will feature performances and demonstrations to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the UNESCO-recognised Huế Monument complex and the 20th anniversary of Nhã Nhạc Cung Đình (Royal court music) being recognised as a world intangible heritage. The events will take place throughout 2023.

The tourism hub is expected to be an attractive location for 50 key events, more than 100 response activities, and art performances in the festival between January and December.

Vice Chairman of Thừa Thiên-Huế Provincial People’s Committee, Phan Thanh Bình, said the festival, under this year's theme of Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development, will host domestic and international art troupes performing year-around events to promote the seven UNESCO-recognised heritages that the province has been preserving.

A model shows off a long dress collection in the style of Huế design. The long dress festival will stage in the 2023 Huế Festival. Photo courtesy of Thừa Thiên Huế Department of Culture and Sports

The province debuted the festival year by organising the Ban Sóc (Royal calendar delivery) ceremony, the event that kings under Nguyễn Dynasty organised to distribute calendars for royal mandarins at Ngọ Môn (Noon Gate), last weekend.

One of the first activities of the Festival Year will be followed by the Mai Vàng (Yellow Apricot blossom) Festival on January 9-19.

The province also said all activities this year would be stretched out with the theme of four seasons – Xuân Cố Đô (Spring in ancient capital) between January and March; Kinh Thành Tỏa Sáng (Shining Imperial Capital) with craft villages activities from April 28 and May 5; and Huế vào Thu (Huế in the Autumn) between July and September. The áo dài (traditional long dress), lanterns, lion dance and Monsoon festivals will demonstrate the Fall in Huế. Mùa Đông Xứ Huế (Winter time of Huế) will be ending the activity of the festival year with entertainment and year-ended ceremonies such as cuisine and musical performances from October to December.

The festival, which has seen endless efforts made by the People's Committee of Thừa Thiên Huế and communities over 22 years, is one of the key international art events of the country.

A local craftswoman makes a conical hat at an event of the Huế Festival. The biennial event will be held in Huế city from January to December. VNS Photo Công Thành

The province's authority has been reviving the wearing of traditional long dresses in the community on festivals and special days of the year to promote the beauty and value of the Huế-based 300-year-old dress.

Last year, the province won three ASEAN tourism awards for its unique services.

The province has been building a unique cuisine brand in Thừa Thiên-Huế as a tourism promotion and attraction of the One Destination-Five UNESCO-recognised world heritages hub.

Huế, the imperial capital in Việt Nam for over 100 years, has been a unique destination in central Việt Nam with its five UNESCO heritage offerings: the ancient citadel relic complex, Huế royal court music, Nguyễn Dynasty’s wooden blocks, Nguyễn Dynasty’s royal administrative documents, and literature on Huế royal architecture. 

The tourism hub in central Việt Nam aims to be a ‘zero plastic waste’ destination by 2030.– VNS