HÀ NỘI — Many cultural and arts activities to celebrate the beauty of áo dài (Vietnamese long dress) and the 70th anniversary of Hà Nội’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - 2024) will be held as part of the Hà Nội Tourism Áo Dài Festival 2024.

According to the Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism, Nguyễn Hồng Minh, main activities of the festival will take place from October 4-6 at the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

As part of a series of programmes celebrating the 70th anniversary, the festival will showcase Việt Nam and áo dài, attracting a large number of tourists and international friends, promoting Hà Nội as a destination that is 'Safe, Friendly, Quality and Attractive', he said.

The opening ceremony of the Hà Nội Tourism Áo Dài Festival 2024 will be held on October 4 with the theme Hà Nội ­– Tinh Hoa Áo Dài (Hà Nội - The Essence of Áo Dài).

The programme will gather hundreds of famous singers and artists who will perform many heroic songs and dances that re-enact a part of the 70-year history of the capital city. It will also include displays of áo dài collections by designers from all over the country such as Đỗ Trịnh Hoài Nam, Đức Hùng, Quang Hòa, Cao Minh Tiến and brands like OZ Design House.

Another highlight of the festival is the áo dài carnival, a large-scale performance that is jointly implemented by the Women's Union Hà Nội and the Department of Tourism. The carnival will take place in 579 communes, wards and towns in the city. 

An arts programme entitled Đêm Hội Áo Dài (Áo Dài Festival Night) will be held on October 5, showcasing latest áo dài designs by 70 designers and it will include a fashion show with some special models – wives of ambassadors in Việt Nam.

The festival will also feature a variety of cultural activities, including the finale of the áo dài design contest, an exhibition of áo dài and accessories, a photo exhibition and spaces celebrating arts, handicrafts, folk games and food, where visitors can immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture.

Many other exciting side shows will be held, including a bicycle parade, 'Áo Dài Connecting Tourism and Hà Nội’s Heritage 2024', the 'Check in Hà Nội' photo opportunity with the dresses, an áo dài dance challenge and an áo dài city bus tour.

Since the beginning of the year, Hà Nội has implemented various tasks and solutions to promote tourism, providing a boost to the socio-economic development of both the capital and the country. In the first eight months of 2024, the capital city is estimated to welcome about 19 million visitors, a 12.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Total revenue from tourism is estimated to reach around VNĐ74 trillion (US$3.22 billion).

Hà Nội has been honoured by many media organisations with various accolades.

For two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023, the city received the award for Asia's and the world's leading city destination from the World Travel Awards. The website TripAdvisor ranked Hà Nội among the 25 must-visit destinations and the top 20 destinations for food lovers. The Travel magazine also placed Hà Nội in the top ten most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia. — VNS