The first Thang Long – Hanoi Festival in 2025 is a large-scale cultural and artistic event held at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It is a heritage festival with an open creative space, where traditional cultural values are connected with the spirit of the digital era, and where folk artisans meet artists and young creators to innovate and enrich Vietnamese cultural identity in the era of integration.
The Thang Long – Hanoi Festival 2025 took place from November 1 to November 16, gathering more than 500 artists and 200 outstanding artisans from both domestic and international arenas, with over 30 distinctive cultural, artistic, and tourism activities. Prominent activities included the Street Festival, traditional and contemporary art performances, heritage exhibitions, Ao Dai Festival, handicraft demonstrations, seminars, and creative business networking activities, all experienced across Hanoi’s heritage and creative spaces such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Walking Street, Temple of Literature, and Hanoi Museum.
These activities were organized to link community memory with new creative ideas, emphasizing the role and promoting the values of the nation in developing the creative industry, and fostering Hanoi’s development to truly deserve the title of UNESCO “City of Creativity.”
The opening art program, themed “Heritage – Connection – Era,” consisted of three parts. The Heritage section explored the history and heritage of Thang Long – Hanoi, combining Xam and Trong Quan performances with participation from People’s Artist Thu Huyen, Meritorious Artist Van Ty, Mai Tuyet Hoa, and Tung Duong.
The Connection section spread cultural essence, linking domestic and international heritage, with performances of Cheo, Xam, and Ca Tru in contemporary folk style, combined with Hue Hat Van and the Bowl Dance.
The Era section affirmed the present and shaped the future, creating on the foundation of preserving Vietnamese cultural values.
The opening ceremony gathered nearly 1,000 performers and renowned artists such as Ca Nuong Kieu Anh, Trong Tan, Anh Tu, Meritorious Artist Dieu Hang, Meritorious Artist Nhu Huynh, Ha Thanh Xam Group, and Thai Ha Ca Tru Guild. This is a key event aimed at honoring local artisan identity, connecting heritage with modern creativity, promoting the capital to become UNESCO’s “City of Creativity,” while offering vibrant and engaging cultural experiences for residents and visitors.
To create a comprehensive and lively heritage tableau, the opening ceremony organizers mobilized nearly 1,000 professional performers from leading units such as the Thang Long Puppet Theater and Hanoi Cheo Theater, along with the participation of village and commune artisans. The artisans played a central role, preserving the original identity of heritage and artistic elements. The program also recreated some traditional festivals and folk games, such as the Dragon Acrobatics Dance, Con Di Dance, Seated Tug-of-War, and Wrestling.
The Thang Long – Hanoi Festival emphasized the “Era” spirit through the application of cutting-edge technology, turning heritage into new inspiration.
The Thang Long – Hanoi Festival is designed as an annual, large-scale activity with a strategic goal not only as a cultural event but also to produce unique products for the cultural industry after its conclusion.
To ensure the spirit of “The festival does not end – but opens a new cycle of creativity,” the programs and performances are designed as shows to be performed regularly.
Through this activity, Hanoi continues to affirm its image as a “City of Creativity – where heritage lives with the era,” while strongly promoting the Vietnamese cultural brand to international friends.
Mai Thu