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The Song Hong Jazz Band perform at the opening ceremony of the Ha Noi International Jazz Festival 2026 on September 17. |
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha said Ha Noi is pursuing a cultural development orientation that combines tradition with modernity, promotes integration and creativity, preserves and brings into play cultural heritage values, and strengthens international integration and connectivity.
Ha Noi is focusing on developing cultural products deeply imbued with its identity while hosting regional and international-scale programs and events, with the goal of turning the capital city a dynamic and creative center for cultural industries, she noted, adding that the municipal administration have directed the development of various music programs for the community, giving residents, tourists and music lovers chances to enjoy and engage with the arts in distinctive cultural spaces.
Among these initiatives, a community music program featuring Meritorious Artist Quyen Van Minh, jazz artists and the city’s art units has been held regularly since November 2025 at Bat Giac House in the King Ly Thai To flower garden. The Sunday afternoon program has attracted a large number of residents and visitors who come to enjoy jazz and the arts, Ha said.
At the opening night, audiences enjoyed performances by the Song Hong Jazz Band, Nguyen Le Special Quartet and Senri Kawaguchi Special Fusion Band. The participation of Vietnamese and international artists reflects the festival’s overarching spirit of connecting different artistic personalities and cultural backgrounds through the common language of jazz.
Jointly organized by the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater, Ha Noi Jazztival 2026 is taking place at prominent cultural venues, including the Ha Noi Opera House, the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater, the culture and arts centre at No. 22 Hang Buom street, the Vietnamese Women's Museum, Thang Long Opera Hotel, Hoan Kiem pedestrian zone and jazz clubs across the city.
The expanded range of venues aims to bring jazz closer to the public while creating opportunities for Vietnamese artists to exchange expertise with international counterparts.
The festival also features talks, workshops, exhibitions, street jazz performances and jam sessions, notably the “Ha Noi and jazz” talk, a workshop on Jazz language in traditional music and the “Jazz and heritage” program, exploring links between jazz and Vietnamese cultural spaces and musical materials.
The festival’s closing performance will take place at Bat Giac House on September 19, featuring Yellow Star BigBand, Tran Manh Tuan & TMT Fusion Band, and San Trinh & Sauteed Grabba Band.
With open and free-of-charge activities held at both professional performance venues and public spaces, Ha Noi Jazztival 2026 seeks to expand access to jazz and make the genre more visible in the capital’s urban cultural life.
It is expected to become a regular international jazz gathering in Ha Noi, connecting Vietnamese artists with the global jazz community while promoting Vietnamese culture, people and creativity to international audiences. The long-term goal is turning the festival into an annual cultural event that diversifies the capital’s artistic life, promotes international exchanges and links culture with tourism and creative industries, according to the organizers.
Source: VNA