World Cultural Festival in Hanoi: A meeting place to connect the elite, spread cultural identity and friendship

The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi ended, concluding the largest cultural diplomacy event in Vietnam in 2025 and leaving a deep impression in the hearts of tens of thousands of people and international tourists.

During the 3-day festival, the World Heritage site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel becomes a "common home", with cultures from all five continents converging.

The gathering place of human quintessence

Taking place from October 10-12, 2025, the World Culture Festival in Hanoi, organized for the first time by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee, brings together 48 countries, 45 cultural spaces, 34 food stalls, 23 art troupes, 12 publishing units, and 22 countries participating in the international film screening program. This is a record number in the history of cultural exchange activities in Vietnam.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung speaks at the closing ceremony

With the theme “Culture is the foundation - Art is the means”, the festival is positioned as a “colorful festival” - where culture becomes a common language connecting humanity. Here, melodies, colors, flavors and emotions harmonize in the open space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel - the symbol of the thousand-year-old civilization of the Capital, a World Cultural Heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Mr. Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Photo: VNA

In the space of “Cultural Road”, visitors can travel through nearly 50 countries, from Korea, Japan, France, Iran to Laos, Angola, Cuba, Angola, Palestine… each booth is a “window” opening up its own identity, from traditional costumes, musical instruments, paintings to folk games, traditional rituals...

When visiting the festival, the public can directly experience wearing national costumes, enjoy folk dance performances, or participate in international culinary workshops, where chefs from four continents share the culinary quintessence of their nations. People and tourists can not only taste the flavors of world cuisine at the food court, but also prepare and experience dishes themselves in the cultural workshops.

In addition, folk performances such as Central Highlands Gong, Bac Ninh Quan Ho, Chau Van, Vietnamese Folk Dance, and international performances from Russia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. created a vibrant musical picture, where art becomes a bridge connecting hearts. The international film screening program introduced 22 films from many countries, bringing to the public slices of culture, human identity and aspirations.

The highlight of the festival was the “Heritage Footsteps” night taking place on the evening of October 11, where emotions and humanistic spirit were sublimated. Nearly 100 traditional and contemporary costumes from various countries transformed the Thang Long Imperial Citadel stage into a multicultural catwalk, where fashion became a language of dialogue between civilizations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Vietnam's cultural space at the Festival. Photo: VNA

Collections such as “Hanoi in Hanoi” (Designer Vu Viet Ha), “Heritage in Hanoi” (Designer Anh Thu - Ngan An brand), or “Van Yen Textile” (Designer Nguyen Mi)… tell cultural stories of the nation using silk materials, ancient costumes, and traditional patterns.

In particular, the performances by the wives of the embassies of various countries became a special moment that attracted the audience. Each wife brought a unique cultural slice of her country, expressed through traditional costumes and international exchange messages...

Celebrating the diversity of cultures

In the space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, tens of thousands of people and tourists from home and abroad immersed themselves in the vibrant, colorful atmosphere of the 1st World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. The stage and exhibition booths were bustling with music, laughter, art performances and unique experiential activities. Not only an opportunity to explore unique cultures, the festival also brings pride, connects the community and spreads the image of the capital Hanoi - a cultural rendezvous, a place where the world's quintessence converges.

According to Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) Nguyen Phuong Hoa, the highlight that makes the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi different from previous international cultural exchange activities is the comprehensive nature, honoring the diversity of cultures around the world, from performing arts, fashion shows, music, cinema, fine arts, photography exhibitions, to cuisine, literature...

People in the capital visit booths of countries participating in the festival.

What is more special is that the festival focuses on the interaction and experience of the people, putting the people at the center. People and tourists participating in the festival not only enjoy music and dances, but also experience national costumes of different countries, taste and try typical dishes from cuisines around the world, and immerse themselves in folk songs and dances...

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai said he was honored to participate in this event, a place where world cultures converge, and was also happy to introduce Malaysian culture to Vietnamese and international tourists at this festival through cuisine, costumes, folk games, photo exhibitions, etc.

One of the most humane activities taking place in this festival is the charity auction to support people in flood-affected areas. Accordingly, within the framework of the fashion show “Heritage Footsteps” of the 1st World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, a charity auction was held to support people affected by the recent floods.

Special products auctioned include: Hanoi Ao Dai of the 30s - designed by designer Vu Viet Ha; "Golden Lotus" design by designer Anh Thu, from Ao Dai Ngan An brand; "Yen Vu" design by designer Nguyen Mi; "Lien Vu" silk scarf design by designer Van Hang from DeSilk brand; "Lien Vu" Ao Dai design from Nguyet Hoa collection by designer Ha Trinh; special ceramic art work named "Mother and Child" by artist Ngo Ba Hoang; special jewelry work from Huong Jewellery brand; painting "Ancient Cheo melody and kite flute sound on the golden field" by artist Ngo Ba Hoang... With the spirit of "mutual love", the charity auction collected 2.5 billion VND from benefactors to support people in flood-hit areas.

People in the capital visit booths of countries participating in the festival.

According to the Organizing Committee, the charity auction is not only a place to honor cultural diversity, but also a place to connect hearts and compassion without borders, a bridge connecting the hearts of people and international friends with compatriots suffering from floods, demonstrating the spirit of international solidarity in joining hands to respond to global challenges, especially climate change.

The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi has ended, but it has opened a new door for Vietnam's cultural diplomacy. The success of the festival contributes to affirming the goal of building the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi into an annual festival, a cultural brand of Vietnam's diplomacy, contributing to promoting national culture, promoting tourism, creative economy and people-to-people exchange, enhancing mutual understanding and trust between Vietnam and the international community.

Vietnam.vn