An exhibition commemorating the 43rd anniversary of liberation and national reunification is open from April 24 to May 30 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hoang Dieu Street. More than 150 photos and artefacts capturing the atmosphere in Saigon and Hanoi during the historic moment on April 30, 1975 are on display.

Hanoi

The Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, in co-ordination with the Vietnam Post Corporation, will also introduce 48 sets of postage stamps on emulation movements during the resistance war against US imperialists for national salvation. A number of cultural and artistic programs, featuring puppetry, water puppetry, and folk games will be held as part of activities to celebrate the event.

In addition, the monthly music show “Music Face”, at the Hanoi Opera House in Trang Tien Street, will present a concert celebrating the national holiday, with songs honoring soldiers in the war performed by renowned local singers. The show will take place at 8pm on April 29.

Carnaval in Ha Long

Having become a popular festival in Ha Long city in northern Quang Ninh province, the 10th Carnaval Ha Long promises to present new and special artistic performances.

With the theme “Ha Long Bay - Heritage - Wonder - Friendly Destination”, Carnaval Ha Long 2018 will start on April 26 with a parade of 12 flower floats, with the opening night being on April 28 at Ha Long Park in Bai Chay Street. The 2018 Ha Long National Tourism Year in Quang Ninh will also be officially launched.

More than 1,000 local and international dancers, singers, and models from South Korea, Brazil, Ukraine, and Cuba will set the stage on fire with their colorful and vibrant performances.

On April 27 and 28 at Square 30/10, the Asian Food and Culture Festival will take place with the participation of many local and international chefs. There will be also an international beach volleyball competition and a provincial tennis tournament and EDM nights for young people.

Quang Ninh is home of Ha Long Bay, which has been twice recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1994 and 2000. The event aims to promote local tourism and attract even more tourists to the province.

Hue Festival

Building on the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development, Hue - One Destination, Five World Heritages”, the 10th Hue Festival will be held from April 27 to May 2. It aims celebrate Reunification Day as well as promote Vietnamese and Hue culture and tourism and socioeconomic development in Thua Thien Hue province.

The event will showcase stunning artistic performances representing the different cultures of Vietnam and dozens of countries around the world. In particular, it will present to audience members the essence of Hue’s cultural and artistic values, inspired by UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites such as the Complex of Hue Monuments (recognized in 1993), Royal Court Music (2003), Woodblocks from the Nguyen Dynasty (2010), imperial records from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945, and recognized in 2014), and Royal Literature on Hue Royal Architecture (from 1802-1945 and recognized in 2016). A variety of superb traditional and contemporary artistic performances will be staged inside the Citadel, An Dinh Palace, and other venues within the city.

Hue Festival 2018 will continue to re-enact the imperial life in the spectacle “Hue Royal Inspiration”, together with programs introducing the essence of Hue folk arts and royal art, including Buddhism cultural events, a national competition in “Hat van” and “Chau van” spiritual singing, and street performances themed “Cultural Colors”. A wide range of stirring programs and community events, including exhibitions, traditional sampan racing, kite flying, calligraphy demonstrations and displays, installations, street art, conferences, workshops, an international trade fair, sporting activities, a cuisine fair, and sightseeing tours will take place during the six days of the Festival.

The Hue International Cuisine Festival 2018 will be held from April 28 to May 2 at Thuong Bac Park. There will be 20 to 30 stalls from different countries and 60 to 70 stalls from hotels and tourism companies around Vietnam. According to the local Department of Tourism, interesting programs include food processing and service at stalls, with each country or region selecting specialties to help tourists learn about their special culinary characteristics.

Da Nang Fireworks Festival

2018 marks ten years since the first Da Nang Fireworks Festival. The Festival has constantly reinvented itself in the last eight holdings and has now developed into a world-class cultural and tourism event hosted from April to June.

Inspired by the bridges that have carved Da Nang’s history, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2018 is entitled “The Legend of Bridges” and takes place from April 30 to June 30, involving five spectacular fireworks nights and a series of striking, simultaneous events. The eight participating teams include the host Vietnam, three-time champions Italy, previous winners the US and France, and Poland and Portugal as well as first-time contenders Sweden and Hong Kong.

From April 27 to May 1 there will be a range of other activities held, such as a street festival on the east side of Dragon Bridge, with colorful costumes and music and dance such as Pasodop, rumba, chachacha, tango, and disco, boat racing, flashmob bikini dancing, a food festival on My Khe Beach, and folk music and wartime songs on the west side of Dragon Bridge.

From April 24 to May 3, a photo exhibition at the Da Nang Museum in Tran Phu Street will display 246 photos from 185 photographers selected at the 9th Vietnam International Artistic Photo Competition last year, taken from the 11,000 photos submitted by photographers from 36 countries and territories. The exhibition will display the best photos in the categories of open shots, landscapes, portraits, and daily life.

Ho Chi Minh City

Fireworks will light up the sky in Ho Chi Minh City on April 28 from 9pm to 9.15pm at the Thu Thiem Tunnel area in District 2 and Dam Sen Park in District 11.

To mark upcoming events, Le Duan Street, Nguyen Hue Street, and the roundabout at Le Duan and Pham Ngoc Thach Streets in the city center will be decorated with artistic lighting.

Paintings, photos and documentaries will also be exhibited, recalling Vietnam’s historic wars. An exhibition showcasing 222 sketches drawn on many types of materials by soldiers in the resistance war against the US is on display at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in Binh Thanh district until April 30. Two other exhibitions will run from April 25 to May 10, including one featuring 220 color and black & white photos of the war and Vietnam’s achievements since 1975, at District 1’s Lam Son Park. The other presents images of the city’s nature, historical relics, and tourist destinations, at Chi Lang Park in Dong Khoi Street, District 1.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize a cross-country run, an event held for 42 years to mark Reunification Day. The 30th Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup cycling tournament will also take place.

Vietnam Economic Times