HÀ NỘI — The first-ever Hà Nội Mardi Gras Festival, which aims to highlight and celebrate the city’s LGBT community, will hold its main celebration March 24 at the Australian Embassy.

The Australian Embassy in Việt Nam officially announced on Monday a series of events aiming to bring the spirit of the famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival to Hà Nội.

To start the event, candidates living in Việt Nam are invited to take part in two competitions – Road to Mardi Gras, an online story-telling contest and Colours of Mardi Gras, a costume contest for members of LGBT communities in Việt Nam. The contests have been run from February 18 to March 24.

Two lucky entrants will win tickets to the 2018 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival. The best stories and costumes will be on display at the main event.

The March 24 main celebration will be a feast for the senses: as well as the story exhibition and fashion show, the event will showcase memorable moments of the 2017 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival, with lively musical performances by both Vietnamese and Australian artists.

“Promoting gender equality is a top priority for both the Vietnamese and Australian governments, and we are proud to support Việt Nam’s efforts, including through our development co-operation programme here. Through this event, we hope to bring the spirit of Sydney’s famous Mardi Gras to Việt Nam, helping to raise awareness about the rights of LGBT people,” said Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for my organisation and other NGOs to co-operate with the Australian Embassy on gender equality. Hanoi Mardi Gras Festival is not simply a fun celebration but also a very meaningful event of diversity and self-expression for the LGBT community,” said Vũ Kiều Oanh, founder of LGBT Community Development Center 6+ and a representative of LGBT community in Việt Nam.

Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a famous and well-loved annual celebration of LGBT communities across the globe. Since its founding in 1978, it has achieved an iconic status as a statement of pride and a platform to promote the broad message of diversity and acceptance. With this year’s theme of “Creating Equality”, the Mardi Gras promises to bring not only colourful and dazzling performances, but also to promote a world where everyone is treated fairly regardless of their sexuality, gender identity, race, belief, age, ability and social status. — VNS