Opening of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Attending the opening ceremony were Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Vice Chairwoman of Hanoi People's Council Pham Thi Thanh Mai; representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vietnam...

The Prime Minister and leaders visited the National Cultural Spaces of the countries participating in the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi , Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: culture is the red thread that connects people to people, connects countries to countries, connects the world together. It can be said that culture has no borders, so the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025 is the connection between the Vietnamese people and the peoples of the world.

Delegates attending the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025.

According to the Prime Minister, we are currently struggling with storms and floods. In the third quarter of 2025, we had to endure 8 storms and in September alone, 4 storms. Currently, a part of the people are struggling with difficulties caused by natural disasters. We also send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the loss of life and property in the areas affected by natural disasters and floods.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the opening ceremony of the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025.

At this event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for contributions and sharing from compatriots nationwide and international friends for those who are being severely affected by storms and storm circulations causing floods in some provinces in Vietnam at present.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also said that President Ho Chi Minh - the great national hero, world cultural celebrity, has determined that "Culture lights the way for the nation". Our Party has determined that culture is an endogenous strength, culture is scientific, national and popular. Currently, we are concretizing this Party's policy, culture must truly be an endogenous strength, connecting people to people, connecting economies to each other.

We are developing the cultural industry, the entertainment industry and thereby contributing to the internationalization of Vietnam's culture imbued with national identity to international friends. At the same time, we are also nationalizing the world's civilizations into Vietnam. When we do this, we will contribute to making the people truly enjoy the culture of the nation as well as the civilization of the world.

Art performances at the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hopes that ministries, branches, localities and especially countries having relations with Vietnam will continue to respond to the World Cultural Festival in Vietnam to make it an annual brand.

According to the Prime Minister, the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025 also strongly demonstrates national identity, including the culture of sharing, the culture of helping each other, the culture of national love, and the spirit of sending one's feelings in many forms to people suffering the consequences of climate change, including recent storms and floods in some provinces.

UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker speaks.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Viet Nam, Jonathan Wallace Baker, expressed UNESCO’s deep sympathy and solidarity with the areas affected by the recent natural disasters. “We extend our condolences to the families who have lost their homes and loved ones. In these difficult times, culture reminds us of our roots. It is the source of resilience, compassion, and the ability to rebuild our lives together. This festival embodies that spirit. With the theme “Joining hands with our fellow countrymen in the flood-affected areas,” the festival shows that culture is not only a celebration of beauty and creativity — it is also an inspiration for compassion, recovery, and solidarity,” Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker emphasized.

The Prime Minister and leaders performed a special ceremony (painting five-color ceramic paintings) to open the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025.

Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker also said, the Festival brings together artists, communities and countries to share traditional values and creative innovation. Through that, we listen to each other and affirm that cultural differences do not divide us, but actually connect us together.

UNESCO is proud to be with Vietnam on this meaningful journey. UNESCO’s collaboration with the Hanoi World Culture Festival highlights that creativity and humanity go hand in hand. Each activity reflects UNESCO’s shared commitment to Hanoi and Vietnam: to put culture at the heart of sustainable development, to empower communities, and to promote creativity as a driver of inclusion and resilience.

Immediately after the opening of the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025, the art performance program of Vietnam and participating countries took place. Accordingly, the art performances and 3D Mapping projections were the convergence of five continents in creative light and solidarity. All performances moved in three-dimensional space with the message that culture is a bridge between humanity and creativity is the common language of the world.

Art performances of Vietnam and other countries participating in the Festival.

L2025 is Vietnam's key cultural exchange activity in 2025, gathering 48 participating countries with many contents. Specifically, 45 national cultural spaces, 34 international culinary booths, 23 domestic and foreign art troupes, 12 units introducing books and publications, 22 countries participating in the international film screening program.
The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi will be open to the public on October 11 and 12, 2025.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-lan-thu-nhat.872375.html