HÀ NỘI  The Festival Huế 2024 is coming back with a flourish, aiming to attract all domestic and international tour operators, hotel and business owners in support of one of Việt Nam's signature modern festivals that brings together culture, heritage and the arts. 

"This is the most important international press conference we've had since COVID," said Nguyễn Văn Phương, chairman of Thừa Thiên Huế's Provincial People's Committee [province government]. "We hope with this series of festivities, we will definitely bounce back with up to two million international visitors and two million more local tourists visiting Huế."

"This is Việt Nam's important cultural festival," said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Toursim Tạ Quang Đông.

Entitled "Cultural Heritage amid Intergration and Development", the festival is scheduled to take place from June 7 to 12 with a line up which includes performances of international and local art troupes, a food festival and the world famous heritage of Huế: royal court music and songs.

A street fair entitled "Cultural Colours" will also get tourists mingling with locals, bringing joyful community dances and public songs out onto the streets.

"Huế is the ancient royal capital of Việt Nam, but it doesn't only belong to Việt Nam. Huế's charm and appeal have long reached out of the country's borders," said Nguyễn Thanh Bình, deputy chairman of Thừa Thiên Huế's People's Commitee. "Just yesterday, the Nine Nguyễn Dynasty Urns carved paintings and pamphlets were inscribed in the Memory of the World Heritage List."

"This has never happened before, and it's great news," said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Minh Hằng.

"Cultural diplomacy has been our country's way to reach out to other cultures around the world. We at the Foreign Ministry strongly support cultural activities, especially Festival Huế."

Twelve art troupes from seven countries are heading to Huế to perform including contemporary artists, hip-hop dancers from Cergy, a photo exhibition entitled "Road to Olympique Paris 2024", royal stilt walkers from Merchtem (Belgium), Flamenco Hispano (Spain), the Eisa Urakaji troupe (Japan), the Zhejiang theatre company (China), pianist Steve Barakatt (Canada), and two art groups from South Korea. 

The festival line up will also include leading artists from the Huế Traditional Theatre, the Huế Conservatory of Music and Huế's Royal Arts Theatre, who will be joining Việt Nam's other artists from Bắc Ninh, Bạc Liêu, Kon Tum, and Việt Nam's Circus League. 

A special one-night show will be dedicated to song-writer Trịnh Công Sơn, a native of Huế accompanied by an áo dài show designed by his younger sister Trịnh Hoàng Diệu. 

Any festival could not complete without accompanying food and drink parties.

There will be a vegetarian festival organised by Huế's Buddhist monks and a beer festival from Carlsberg, along with a nightly music offering brought to the city by the younger residents.

A week of stunning events, sure to keep city residents awake and plans by the city elders to turn Huế into a festival city all year round, with each season a week-long celebration for visitors. 

Huế is so rich in culture and heritage, a city with ten UNESCO listed sites, so even more reason to plan a visit.  VNS