The information was shared by Le Thi Anh Mai, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, at a press conference held in Ha Noi, on October 21, announcing the 2025 Thang Long – Ha Noi Festival, themed “Heritage – Connection – Contemporary Times”.
The 2025 Thang Long – Ha Noi Festival is an opportunity for Ha Noi to showcase its spirit of integration, creativity, and commitment to heritage preservation. Through the series of events, the capital city affirms its image as a ‘Creative City – where heritage lives alongside modernity’, while also strongly promoting the cultural brand of Viet Nam to the world,
Le Thi Anh Mai
Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports
The programme will open with a grand ceremony on the evening of November 7 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and conclude on November 16 at Dong Kinh Nghia Thục Square. The event is directed by the Ha Noi People’s Committee and organised by the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports in collaboration with various partners.
According to Chief Director Pham Hoang Giang, the opening ceremony will combine traditional and modern elements on an elaborately designed stage enhanced by advanced 3D mapping technology.
“Our aim is to create an engaging programme that appeals not only to young audiences but also helps promote Ha Noi’s culture and heritage to international visitors. The performances will feature many renowned artists and include surprising fusions of traditional and contemporary music,” he shared.
Being held for the first time, the Thang Long – Ha Noi Festival 2025 will take place in various heritage and creative spaces across the capital such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, Ha Noi Museum, and Hoan Kiem Lake. It will feature more than 30 cultural, artistic, and tourism activities with the participation of some 5,000 performers.
At the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, visitors can experience the “Heritage Convergence” series showcasing traditional craft products from Viet Nam’s three historic capitals – Thang Long, Hue, and Hoa Lu – alongside exhibits from the Central Highlands (November 1–9).
The festival will highlight Ha Noi’s culinary culture through the “Flavours of Ha Noi” showcase, as well as creative design and craft activities.
Other key events include the “Ao dai on the Heritage Path” fashion show (November 2), the “Youthful Ha Noi” exhibition (November 2–16), the “Ha Noi oi” art performance (November 3), the “Heritage and Future” display, the international scientific seminar “Educational and Cultural Heritage of East and West” ( 3)
At the Ha Noi Museum, visitors can explore the special exhibition “Archaeological Discoveries from the Vuon Chuoi archaeological site” (November 2) and the “Solo Puppetry Space” – a reinterpretation of traditional water puppetry through live and interactive performances. A major highlight will be the international art show “Eternal Moments” (November 8), featuring Swiss composer Dominique Barthassat and creative groups from Ha Noi.
Within the framework of the festival, the 4th Ha Noi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2025 will take place from November 7 to 9 at the Ha Noi Museum and around Hoan Kiem Lake, celebrating the beauty of the traditional long dress in connection with the capital’s cultural and tourism values.
Other events include the Open Ha Noi Puppetry Festival (November 15), the stage performance “Thang Long Capital” (November 10, Thang Long Imperial Citadel), and the “Ngoc Son – Mystical Night” show at Ngoc Son Temple.
Notably, the festival will also mark the 10th anniversary of the 'Tugging rituals and games' being inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with an international seminar “A Decade of Safeguarding and Promoting the Tugging rituals and games” (November 15), and a cultural exchange and performance involving international and local heritage communities (November 16, Tran Vu Temple, Long Bien District).
Running over 16 days, the festival features a rich schedule of overlapping activities across Ha Noi’s diverse cultural and creative spaces. It aims to attract tourism and encourage both domestic and international visitors to plan extended stays in the capital. Major events will be concentrated on weekends to maximise audience engagement.
The Thang Long – Ha Noi Festival seeks to honour the thousand-year-old cultural heritage of Thang Long – Ha Noi, embody the spirit of “Heritage – Connection – Contemporary Times,” and reaffirm the city’s position within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The festival is expected to enhance Ha Noi’s cultural brand and contribute to the development of the city’s creative industries.
