Hue culture takes centre stage

A series of art performances marked the opening ceremony of the nine-day Hue Festival at Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square last night.
Titled Dem Hoi Hoang Cung (Royal Palace Festival Night), it featured 60 Vietnamese art troupes and international ones.

The main part of the show was titled Hoi Ngo Hoang Cung (Meeting at Royal Palace), and the concluding part Hue Ta (Our Hue).

The organisers attempted to make the ceremony a blend of the culture of Hue, Vietnam and other countries. Le Ngoc Cuong, director-in-chief of the ceremony, said the theme was integration and development.

The Government's decision to recognise Hue as the country's festival hub was announced at the opening.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and other senior Party and State officials attended the ceremony.

Themed Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development, this year's festival has inherited and built upon the achievements of previous years.

Such old favourites as the Heaven Worshiping Ritual at Nam Giao Platform, ao dai fashion shows. Palace Night, and others will be on show this year.

Four new events show-casing Hue's cultural values are included for the first time - like the Land Worshiping Ritual at Xa Tac Platform, the Military Doctorate Examination began by the Nguyen Dynasty, King Quang Trung's Enthronement Ceremony and Discovering the Legend of Huong River.

The most anticipated one, Discovering the Legend of Huong River, will be held on a 12km section of the river that is associated with other royal art performances.

Preparations

For the festival's shows, 24 stages have been built while over 1,500 actors and artists have arrived in Hue. These include 43 art troupes from 23 countries who will perform 77 shows.

They have come from Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK, the US, and other nations.

France will be the main partner of Festival Hue 2008, with its performers putting on 11 shows.

Ngo Hoa, deputy chairman of the Thua Thien - Hue Province People's Committee, said Festival Hue is a cultural activity that will enable Vietnam's global integration.

Interestingly, reporters covering the worshiping rituals are required to wear an ao dai and turban as a mark of dignity and respect.

Nguyen Quoc Thanh, deputy director of Thua Thien Hue's Department of Sports, Culture, and Tourism, said since 6,200 rooms are available for visitors they don't have to worry about accommodation during the festival.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

Tag: Ao Dai , Culture , Festival , Festival Hue , Hue , Hue Festival , International , Japan , Nguyen Dynasty , Tour , Tourism , Viet Nam , Vietnam , Vietnamese

Hue culture takes centre stage

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