Hue looks to court world attention

Hoping to replicate the success of the Avignon Festival in France and the Adelaide Festival in Australia, organisers of the Hue Festival, staged every two years in Hue City – Viet Nam’s ancient capital, hope the cultural celebration will draw world attention to the splendours of central Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Nguyen Duy Hien, director of the Hue Festival Centre, said this year’s theme would be cultural heritage and integration and development. He said the Hue Festival 2010 would be a grand, impressive and mind-boggling event.
The Hue Festival 2010 opening ceremony will be held at Ngo Mon Square on June 5. The closing ceremony will take place on the banks of the Huong (Perfume) River on June 13.
The festival will also celebrate the 1,000th birthday of Ha Noi, and serve as a platform to enhance international exchanges, socio-economic development and the promotion of Vietnamese tourism.
The captivating Hue Citadel will serve as the focal point of the festival, with art performances, banquets and royal games.
Neighbouring An Dinh Palace, Nguyen Van Troi Park, Thuan An Resort, Lang Co Beach, Thanh Toan Tile Roofed Bridge, A Luoi District and Huyen Tran Princess cultural precinct will also hold festivities from early morning to late at night.
The festival will also celebrate cultures from the five continents of the world.
"This year, Hue Festival will welcome art troupes from Africa for the first time," Hien said. "Previously, only representatives from four continents attended the festival."
Hue Festival 2010 will continue the tradition of re-enacting unique royal festivities on a grand scale.
Naval victories during the dynasty of Lord Nguyen Phuc Lan will be staged as will performances to celebrate his decision to make Kim Long (Thua Thien – Hue Province) the capital of his kingdom.
An ao dai (traditional dress) fashion show will also be held.
In 1998, the Government gave permission to Thua Thien-Hue Province to hold the festival, the first international arts, cultural and tourism event in Viet Nam.
The 2000 Hue Festival received 30 dance troupes from Viet Nam and France with more than 1,000 artists. The festival attracted more than 41,000 visitors, of which 6,000 were from abroad.
In 2008, more than 1,500 artists from 37 domestic dance troupes together with 457 artists from 31 other countries put on 133 performances and 90 communal activities. It welcomed 180,000 visitors, including 30,000 foreign tourists.