Addressing a press conference in Hanoi on May 31, Vu Van Hung, chairman of Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee, said that the national-scale event aims to send out a message of peace whilst commemorating war martyrs and victims.

The event, the largest of its kind to be held in Quang Tri, will open with a special music show at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai national special historical relic site on July 6, revealed Hung.

The highlight of the festival will be a cycling event taking place on June 29 - 30, drawing the participation of around 1,000 athletes from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A culinary festival featuring a total of 100 booths will get underway in Cua Viet tourism area from July 12 to 14. A kite flying festival, cooking contests, and many folk games will also be organised.

Other activities include a music gala at Fidel park in Dong Ha city on July 13 and an international music exchange in Quang Tri province’s culture centre on July 20.

Furthermore, a grand ceremony to pray for peace at the Quang Tri citadel and a floating lantern ceremony on the Thach Han River will be held on July 26.

The first-ever festival for peace is part of a range of activities underway to celebrate 70 years of the Geneva Agreement (July 20) and 77 years of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27), heading towards the 50th anniversary of the South Liberation and National Reunification in 2025.

VOV