The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) spend a billion VND (45,000 USD) on the 2016 Hue Festival under an agreement signed in the central city on March 11.

VNPT representative Duong Tuan Anh said that along with the sum, the company will provide free telecommunication services and internet transmission to serve live television programmes during the time the event takes place from April 29 to May 4.

The Thua Thien-Hue Telecoms company will also open a press centre with free services for reporters covering the event.

VNPT has been among sponsors of the Hue Festival since it was first organized in 2000, according to Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee and head of the festival organising committee.

Other major sponsors for the festival include the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), the MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation and the Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank).

Themed “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development”, the event is part of celebrations for the 710th anniversary of the region, Thua Thien-Hue (formerly known as Thuan Hoa, and then Phu Xuan). The festival will showcase art troupes from dozens of countries around the world.

Vietnamese and foreign artists will join together in performances in the Hue Citadel, An Dinh Palace and other places in the Complex of Hue Monuments.

The “Dem Hoang Cung” (Royal Night) and “Huyen thoai Phuong Dong” (Orient Legendary) will be held in the Ngo Mon-Ky Dai Square, reenacting original royal activities.

There will also be exhibitions, kite and calligraphy displays, scientific workshops, street music and arts performances, along with sports, cuisine and tourism events.

VNA