The Festival for Peace 2024 will open on July 6 at the Hiền Lương Bến Hải national historical relic site in Vĩnh Linh District. Photo quangtri.gov.vn

QUẢNG TRỊ The Festival for Peace 2024 is set to open in the central province of Quảng Trị with a host of special events to entice visitors.

Themed Joining Hands in Creating a Peaceful World, the festival, the first of its kind to be hosted by the province, aims to enhance the position and image of the land and people of Việt Nam and help turn Quảng Trị, once heavily devastated by war, into a destination for peace-loving people from all over the world.

Hoàng Nam, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee [provincial government], who also is head of the festival’s organising board, said it will be the largest event ever held in Quảng Trị.

He said that the festival coincides with the peak tourist season in July so he is hoping for a significant influx of visitors.

The festival will open on the night of July 6 at the Hiền Lương Bến Hải national historical relic site in Vĩnh Linh District with a special art performance on both the stage and the river, connecting the northern and southern banks of the Bến Hải River through the historic Hiền Lương bridge.

Ahead of the actual festival a special cycling for peace event was held on June 29-30 at the Hiền Lương Bến Hải national historical relic site and the Quảng Trị Ancient Citadel.

A cycling for peace event was held on June 29-30 at the Hiền Lương Bến Hải national historical relic site. Photo toquoc.vn

Vice Chairman Nam said he hoped all the cyclists taking part would become ambassadors for peace, conveying the aspirations for peace of the Vietnamese people, especially in Quảng Trị.

A cultural culinary festival will take place from July 12 - 14 at the Cửa Việt Tourism Area in Gio Linh, with a hundred food stalls promoting the culinary culture of the three regions of Việt Nam and the world.

The music exchange programme Melodies of Peace – a music night of Vietnamese famous composer Trịnh Công Sơn - will take place at Fidel Park in Đông Hà City on July 13, with the participation of many famous singers and artists.

An art programme organised by the Nhân Dân (People) newspaper in coordination with Quảng Trị Province themed The 17th Parallel - A Desire for Peace will take place on July 19.

The Wish for Peace programme will be held on July 26 at the historical relic site of Quảng Trị Ancient Citadel.

The festival will take place on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement (July 20, 1954-2024), the 77th War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27, 1947, 2024) and look ahead to the 50th anniversary of the South Liberation and National Reunification (April 30, 1975-2025). VNS