Hue Festival

Hue Festival is a prominent international cultural event held in Hue, Vietnam, every two years to celebrate the invaluable heritage of the region. The inaugural festival, originally named the Vietnamese-French Festival, took place in 1992. In 2000, it officially adopted the name "Hue Festival."

Performance at Hue Festival - Photo: Vietnamplus

Considered one of the largest festivals in Vietnam, Hue Festival transforms the city with numerous community-based events organized both within and beyond its boundaries, aiming to revive the traditional values of Hue. Key events include the Night of the Palace, Nam Giao Worship Ceremony, Truyen Lo Ceremony, Ao Dai Festival, Sea Festival, Kite Competition, and Human Chess, among others. The festival also revitalizes various traditional festivals and crafts from local artisan villages.

Typically, over 20 Vietnamese art companies and an equal number of international troupes participate in the festival. Thousands of artists from around the globe converge on Hue to perform approximately 200 shows across nearly 40 venues throughout the city. During the festival, competitions, fairs, scientific conferences, and exhibitions are held consecutively, attracting millions of attendees. In 2024, approximately 2 million domestic visitors and 200,000 international travelers attended.

The arts performances at Hue Festival showcase a rich tapestry of cultural diversity, featuring artists from countries such as France, China, the UK, Italy, the USA, South Korea, and Brazil. These performances represent the unique cultural heritages of five continents. Additionally, artists from Hue’s sister cities, including Quebec, Quanzhou, Hawaii, Nord Pas de Calais, and Poitou-Charentes, contribute to the festival's vibrant mosaic of global cultures.