From October 10 to 12, 2025, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Center, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People’s Committee, will organize the First Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi.
The festival is held to honor cultural diversity and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the international community.
This year’s festival attracts the participation of 48 countries, featuring a total of 45 cultural spaces, 34 international culinary booths, 23 art troupes, and 12 units presenting books and publications. The international film screening program also draws representatives from 22 countries.
The festival at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel is envisioned as a “shared home” of the world, where the public can admire a rich array of cultural colors, from performing arts, music, and traditional costumes to cinema, fine arts, and cuisine, all blending harmoniously in an atmosphere of friendship and solidarity. Designed as a series of diverse activities unfolding over three days, the festival offers multi-sensory experiences to visitors.
The opening ceremony will take place at 8:00 p.m. on October 10, with the closing ceremony scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on October 12, featuring leading Vietnamese artists such as Tung Duong, Hoa Minzy, Truc Nhan, and Hoang Thuy Linh, alongside numerous international performers. These programs promise distinctive cross-cultural artistic performances that harmoniously combine tradition and modernity. A technological highlight of the festival is the spectacular 3D mapping projection, transforming the Imperial Citadel into a three-dimensional stage and conveying the message: “Culture is the bridge of humanity; creativity is the world’s common language.”
Taking place on the evening of October 11, the artistic fashion show “Steps of Heritage” is regarded as the soul of the festival. Nearly 100 traditional costumes from participating countries will grace the runway, creating the most diverse and grand international ethnic costume showcase ever held in Vietnam. Each costume is not only a work of art but also a vivid story reflecting the history, identity, and spirit of its nation.
From 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on October 11 and 12, the “Cultural Road” will open a multi-national journey of discovery. Visitors can explore nearly 50 cultural spaces from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, France, Iran, Angola, the Philippines, and others to learn about distinctive histories, arts, languages, and customs. Notably, visitors will also have the opportunity to try on traditional costumes from Vietnam and partner countries, capturing memorable moments of cultural exchange.
Within the framework of the festival, international film screenings will be continuously presented at the Imperial Citadel Hall over two days, October 11 and 12. At the same time, the circular stage will host performances by Vietnamese and international art troupes, featuring outstanding acts such as Central Highlands gong culture, Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, Cheo theater, Chau van ritual singing, along with traditional dances and musical performances from Japan, Russia, Cuba, Mongolia, Indonesia, and more.
The Culinary Street will be a paradise for food enthusiasts, where visitors can savor distinctive flavors from around the world and participate in engaging cooking workshops.
The festival serves as a convergence of excellence, a platform for spreading cultural identities, and a bridge connecting the five continents in the heart of the thousand-year-old capital. It contributes to linking nations, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing mutual understanding and trust between Vietnam and the international community, while affirming the important role and contribution of culture in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals toward peace, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
Kim Thoa