On October 21, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports held a press conference announcing the Thang Long Festival, which celebrates the thousand-year heritage of Thang Long - Hanoi.

With the theme "Heritage - Connection - Contemporary Era," the festival also reinforces Hanoi’s standing in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports, Le Thi Anh Mai, stated that this is the first Thang Long Festival, directed by the Hanoi People’s Committee and coordinated with various agencies and localities across Vietnam.

lehoi1.jpg
Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports, Le Thi Anh Mai, shares details at the press conference.

The event, directed by Pham Hoang Giang, will run from November 1 to 16, 2025, with festivities spread across major cultural and creative venues, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, and the Hanoi Museum.

At the Temple of Literature, visitors can experience the "Heritage Convergence" exhibition featuring traditional craft products from the three historical capitals - Thang Long, Hue, and Hoa Lu - along with exhibits from the Central Highlands, held from November 1 to 9.

The "Taste of Hanoi" program will also showcase local cuisine, alongside creative craft and design activities at Ho Van from November 1 to 16.

A series of artistic performances will also take place, including the Ao Dai fashion show along the Heritage Path (November 2), the "Fresh Hanoi" painting exhibition (November 2-6), the "Oh Hanoi" music performance (November 3), the "Heritage and Future" display (November 3-16), the international academic seminar on Eastern-Western educational and cultural heritage (November 3), and the musical performance "The Red River calls the great mountains" (November 8).

At the Hanoi Museum, the public can explore the special exhibition "Archaeological Discoveries from the Chuoi Garden Site" (November 2) and enjoy the "Solo Puppetry Space," where traditional puppetry art will be revitalized through performances and interactive experiences.

A highlight of the festival is the international art show "Eternal Moment" (November 8), featuring Swiss composer Dominique Barthassat and Hanoi-based creative groups.

Within the festival's framework, more than 30 dynamic activities will be hosted. Notable among them is the "Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival 2025" (November 7-9) at the Hanoi Museum and Hoan Kiem Lake area, celebrating the traditional ao dai in the context of Hanoi’s cultural and tourism identity.

The expanded "Hanoi Puppetry Festival" (November 15) will include the symposium "Preserving and Promoting the Art of Puppetry in Contemporary Life" (November 10), the stage performance "Thang Long Imperial Capital" (November 10 at the Imperial Citadel), and the mystical art program "Sacred Night at Ngoc Son Temple" (November 8 and 16).

This year’s festival also marks the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition of the tug-of-war ritual and game as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

To commemorate this milestone, an international seminar titled "A Decade of Safeguarding the Tug-of-War Ritual and Game" will be held on November 15, accompanied by cultural exchanges and performances featuring international troupes (including those from South Korea and other countries) and 10 local heritage communities from Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, and Hanoi. The event will take place at Tran Vu Temple in Long Bien Ward on November 16.

Tinh Le