Vietnam’s Ao Dai to be highlighted at Hue Festival 2020 (Photo: huefestival.com)

Accordingly, the programme will include an incense offering to Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat (1714-1765) and Emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841). It is believed that the ‘Ao Dai’ was created under the rule of Nguyen Phuc Khoat, during the Nguyen Lords rule (1558-1777).

Later in 1837, Minh Mang, the Nguyen Dynasty’s second king, issued a decree to make the ao dai a national dress for all regions. He instructed all people to wear the garment on a daily basis, not just for special occasions.

A show featuring Ao Dai designs from the past and the present will take place along Truong Tien Bridge, around Tinh Tam Lake and Co Ha Garden to introduce to the public to the charm of the traditional Vietnamese outfit.

The programme will also encourage Hue women, female civil workers and students to wear Ao Dai during the Hue Festival 2020, which will be observed from April 1 to 6, 2020.

Under the theme "Cultural Heritage in Integration and Development – Always a New Hue", the Hue festival 2020 will mark the 20th year for the festival, which has been established one of the biggest cultural and arts events in the country.

The 2020 event is expected to feature the diversification of both traditional and contemporary art and cultural performances. The event will also provide a chance to promote tourism and boost socio-economic development in the ancient city of Hue.

Hue Festival 2020 poised to feature diverse range of activities

A press conference was held in Hanoi on December 17 to announce a wide range of activities which will take place throughout the Hue Festival 2020.

The press conference was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province.

Hue Festival 2020 represents the 11th version of the occasion and is set to run with the theme of “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development – Always a New Hue”. The occasion is due to transpire in the central city between April 1-4, 2020.

An art program will open the festival on April 1, 2020, with a variety of unique art performances set to go on show, each of which honour the traditional and contemporary cultural values that are found in the ancient capital of Hue.

Moreover, the opening ceremony will feature an array of interesting activities such as a street festival, an Ao Dai fashion show, a kite festival, a music program about Trinh Cong Son, an international trade fair, and an international dance festival.

Most notably, guests to the event will have the opportunity to experience aspects of the province's intangible cultural heritage, some of which has been recognized by UNESCO, including Hue royal court music, woodblocks from the Nguyen dynasty, poetry, Hue imperial architecture, and the singing folk art of Bai Choi.

The 11th Hue Festival is expected to attract more than 20 local and international art troupes, with the occasion promising to bring a new and unique experience that showcases Hue's traditional culture, history, and art to people from across the world.

Nhan Dan/VOV

Over VND21 billion registered to fund Hue Festival 2020

The organising board of the Hue Festival 2020 on December 3 signed a sponsorship deal worth 8 billion VND (345,439 USD) with Carlsberg Vietnam Co., Ltd – the platinum sponsor of the festival.

Four holy beasts to feature prominently at Hue Festival 2020

The stylised images of four holy beasts in imperial arts, namely dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix, will appear on all media products at the Hue Festival 2020 as the identity for the event, organisers have announced.