Celebrations curtain raiser for Ha Noi’s 1,000th year

Promotions for Viet Nam National Tourism Year 2010 will start in Ha Noi tomorrow, October 10, with a series of commemorations for the 999th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.
The celebrations will be the curtain raiser for next year’s 1,000th anniversary of the capital city.
Viet Nam is expected to welcome a total of 4.5 million tourists this year - and more than six million next year.
For tomorrow, numerous cultural programmes and art performances will take place at a three-day ceremony at Ly Thai To Flower Garden and along Le Lai and Le Thach streets.
A model of an imperial dragon boat will be built behind the statue of King Ly Thai To, the founder of the Thang Long royal citadel. In 1010, the King chose Ha Noi (Thang Long) as the capital of Viet Nam.
Meanwhile, models of Khue Van Cac - a red tower at the Temple of Literature - and tiled houses symbolising Ha Noi’s old quarter, will be built on the stage.
Director of the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Pham Quang Long, said it was the first time Ha Noi had organised a ceremony to announce National Tourism Year.
"The event will feature cultural activities such as ca tru (Vietnamese ceremonial songs), festivals, quan ho (folk songs), traditional games and cultural recollections of the Hue imperial palace. All will be held in front of the statue of King Ly Thai To," he revealed.
The Thang Long drum festival will be the curtain raiser for the event. Almost 100 performers will take part.
Many other programmes will be held in surrounding streets to highlight Ha Noi’s cultural characteristics. They will include exhibitions of folk paintings, traditional handicrafts and models of old carriages, boats, and palanquins.
National tourism year 2009 is also being held in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak, the home of waterfalls, large lakes and primeval forests.
National tourism years were started in 2003 by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism. Each year, a province or city is chosen to host the programme.