More than 60 art troupes from 47 countries worldwide will join 53 local ones in the 2016 Hue Festival, which will take place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from April 29 to May 4, 2016.

The figures are much more than those of 2000 - 15 domestic troupes and seven foreign ones.

Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on December 17, deputy head of the event’s organisation board Che Cong Chung said the festival’s activities will feature the province’s historical and cultural events, including celebrations marking the 710 years since the founding of Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan (now Thua Thien-Hue) and 380 years of Hue city.

Within the festival, mayors of cities in East Asia and Latin America will gather together in a conference during which Hue will receive a certificate recognising it as a cultural city, he added.

Chung said the Hue Festival is the first modern festival organised in Vietnam following the models of famous cities all over the world. The success of the biennial event has boosted Hue’s determination to build the first festival city in the country.

Vietnamese and foreign artists will join together in art 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, enacting original royal activities.

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

VNA