Actors and actress perform during the 2023 Đồ Sơn Carnival. Photo thanhphohaiphong.gov.vn

HẢI PHÒNG — The northern coastal city of Hải Phòng's authority has expected to boost tourism sector through the city's new space and with weekly street music and dance performance programmes.

The shows were first organised in May at the central streets with a parade of world well-known characters such as Snow White, Western nomadic boys and girls, and Vietnamese water puppet Uncle Tễu, women in traditional costumes, as well as artists in beautiful carnival outfits.

"I really like the human-puppets who are in folk colourful costumes that make them the highlights of the parade," said Nguyễn Mai, a Vietnamese-Canadian visitor.

"The artists paid careful attention and worked hard to prepare for the show. They made the puppets lifelike, lovely, and very Vietnamese. Taking my children here, I hope that even though my children live abroad, they will always keep the image of their homeland in their hearts."

Traditional art forms such as xẩm (blind busker's singing) and chầu văn (ceremonial singing) are among listed performance of Hải Phòng's new tourism product project. — Photo anhp.vn

In addition to the parades and puppets' interactions with the public, outdoor performances were organised at the City's Information, Exhibition and Cinema Centre and the Nhà Kèn (Trumpet House) Stage, livening up the entire city during the 2023 Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival Week last month.

The City's Information, Exhibition and Cinema Centre has also set up street music festivals to serve people on national special occasions such as the National Day and traditional Tết (Lunar New Year).

The shows are various in styles such as vibrant Latin dances like chachacha, samba, rumba and paso, and modern dances like hip hop, lyrical, freestyle and fusion, and magic shows.

The traditional xẩm (blind busker's singing) and chầu văn (ceremonial singing) were held regularly, while making tò he (traditional rice powder toys) and calligraphy writing classes gave visitors more new experiences and a better understand of the culture of Việt Nam and the city.

Artists perform quan họ (duet love singing) in an outdoor performance in Hải Phòng. — Photo anhp.vn

In 2023, the city has added attractive "destinations" to its tourism map such as Thế Lữ Walking Street, An Biên Park and City Theatre Square, where visitors could enjoy street art and performance activities from folk performances and young music groups, and portrait paintings.

According to organisers, visitors could enjoy "seeing, listening, shopping, and enjoying traditional specialties" on an all-in-one journey when coming to Hải Phòng.

"Building an urban cultural space in the city centre is the basis to help Hải Phòng promote its tourism," said Dr Nguyễn Ngọc Minh of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Vietnam National University, Hà Nội.

"In addition to tangible cultural heritage, Hải Phòng also has intangible cultural values that make the city's urban cultural landscape complete and help visitors have fulfilled tourism experiences.

"Along with the recent culinary trends, Hải Phòng's other intangible cultural values, ​​such as traditional performing arts, folk and religion and belief festivals still have many potentials to be exploited, promising a unique and rich urban cultural space," he said.

Modern dances of young troupes are part of the project. — Photo anhp.vn

Director of the City's Information, Exhibition and Cinema Centre Đỗ Thị Khánh Hương said a "Street Art" Project has been submitted to the City People's Committee for approval.

Accordingly, the programme would be held every week and expected to be a new tourism product of Hải Phòng, promoting traditional arts, meeting the needs of local residents, and drawing tourists to the city.

“Folk and contemporary theatre shows will be performed live and vividly. They will be our highlights to attract tourists. These activities will help enrich Hải Phòng's tourism and entertainment programme, and play a role in preserving the traditional musical heritage and promoting new forms of arts," said Hương. VNS