Hue Festival is Vietnam’s biggest cultural event highlighting the country’s rich 710-year history in a grand display of sports, art and of course cultural activities. It comes only every two years so it is highly anticipated not only by the local citizens but by foreign tourists as well. This year, it will be celebrated from April 29 – May 4, attracting visitors from all over the globe.
Image by http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/
Hue Festival started in 2000 when Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan, now Thua Thien-Hue Province, was founded. It is a modern celebration based on festivals from different parts of the world. It took eight events before it earned national and international recognition. While it is a cultural gathering boasting of the country’s amazing culture, history, art and tradition, it is largely a tourism effort in order to promote Vietnam all over the globe.
Activities lined up for the major gathering include Royal Night, Orient Legends, beer carnival, international food festival, old car exhibition, ancient village festival in Phuoc Tich Village, traditional boat race on Huong River, kite festival and traditional games.
Artists from 20 countries around the world will showcase their art, including the Guangdong Theatre from China, the Cancer band from Denmark, Michal Milczareck Trio from Poland, Della Mae from the U.S., Hallelujah from Israel, Germein Sisters from Australia and Yun Myung-hwa from South Korea. France will be the major partner in this year’s event. Domestic art groups will be displaying their talents as well, such as the Cleopatra belly dance group from Ha Noi, Giao Thoi band from HCM City and Viet Nam Circus Federation.
But aside from this cultural performances, visitors can always enjoy the popular tourist destinations such as Lang Co Beach, A Luoi mountainous region and Tam Giang Lagoon, among others. Moreover, they can taste the local cuisine which is also known all over the world. They can avail of sightseeing tours and eco-tours which local travel agencies offer at reasonable prices.
A large number of tourists, both local and foreign, are expected to attend the grand celebration so there is a call to increase accommodations and more importantly improve the quality of service among travel agents, hotels and other tourism-related businesses in order to cater to all the needs of incoming visitors. More than one million tourists visited Thua Thien-Hue Province in 2015 so it is expected to even increase this year.