The festival was recognized as a major cultural artistic event, serving as a bridge connecting heritage with contemporary creativity, contributing to promoting the image of the thousand-year-old capital and affirming Hanoi’s position as a UNESCO creative city.
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An art performance at the closing ceremony |
During the two-week long festival, starting November 1, many international activities left a strong impression, including the international conference and cultural exchange on tug-of-war rituals and folk games which marked the 10th anniversary of UNESCO inscription; the art program “Eternal Moment” at Hanoi Museum featuring Swiss composer Dominique Barthassat; the “Heritage convergence” program at the Temple of Literature showcasing the cultural values of the imperial cities of Thang Long, Hue, and Hoa Lu and the Central Highlands provinces.
Programs, seminars, and workshops held during the festival opened new approaches, helping turn festival products into unique cultural values.
Notably, this year’s festival was marked by impressive figures, namely 16 days in duration (November 1-16); nearly 200,000 visitors, almost 1 million online engagements and about 40,000 followers; eight Vietnamese communities and the Republic of Korea’s Gijisi Tug-of-War Association participating in tug-of-war events; and the largest puppetry festival ever held, gathering 19 troupes with nearly 800 artists.
Moreover, activities at Hanoi Museum attracted nearly 25,000 visitors during the Ao Dai Tourism Festival. The Temple of Literature Special National Relic Site welcomed 75,000 visitors. These positive results further proved that heritage is a sustainable development resource for the capital.
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Certificates presented to artisans, individuals, and organizations contributing to the Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2025 |
In addition, the festival helped spark the creative spirit of Hanoi’s citizens, encouraging everyone to become a “creative agent.”
The success of this festival was clear evidence of innovation rooted in tradition, and built a firm foundation for the festival to become an annual, international cultural event.
On this occasion, representatives of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee and the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports presented certificates of recognition to eminent artisans, individuals, and organizations with contribution to the Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2025.
The Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2026 is expected to be themed “Hanoi quintessence - Global connection,” reflecting the aspiration to elevate Hanoi as a heritage city where the quintessence of Thang Long converges, interacts, and connects with global cultural movements.
Translated by Mai Huong