Second Cultures of the World Festival in Ha Noi 2026 concludes

The ceremony was attended by Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh.

An art performance at the closing ceremony

Addressing the closing ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh emphasized that for Viet Nam, culture serves as both the spiritual foundation of society and a goal, driving force, and resource for national development. Concluding the four-day event, from Ha Noi - the city for peace, the festival conveyed a message to international friends on respecting differences to foster mutual understanding, sharing values to enhance cohesion, and expanding cultural cooperation to jointly build a civilized, peaceful world of cooperation and development.

The festival generated widespread appeal among the public, not only at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long but also in public spaces and across media platforms.

This year's festival held special significance as it coincided with Viet Nam’s 50th  anniversary of joining UNESCO, marking a half-century journey of Viet Nam evolving from a war-torn nation into an active, responsible member that increasingly makes pro-active contributions and initiatives to common issues of UNESCO and the international community.

Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh speaks at the closing ceremony.

The organizing board presents commemorative medals to participating nations and organizations at the festival.

The closing art program comprised two chapters featuring performance groups and artists from Viet Nam and international partners.

Building on the success of the first two editions, the organizing board is gradually developing the Cultures of the World Festival in Ha Noi into a reputable platform for international cultural exchange and cooperation, held annually, with a distinctive identity and tangible outcomes in cultural collaboration.

Translated by Hai Son