The event featured a wide range of distinctive activities celebrating the cultural beauty of the country’s three regions while highlighting the unique characteristics of Thang Long–Ha Noi culture.
Organised by Ha Noi at the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, the launch ceremony marking Viet Nam Cultural Day featured a wide range of distinctive activities.
Under the theme “Thang Long-Ha Noi, a thousand years of civilisation — A kaleidoscope of Vietnamese colours”, the event served as the opening programme, building momentum and generating widespread interest in a series of activities celebrating Viet Nam Cultural Day in Ha Noi in 2026.
Speaking at the event, Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Ha Noi People’s Committee, stated that Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture had designated November 24 each year as Viet Nam Cultural Day. This decision reflects the Party and State’s profound commitment to culture and underscores the responsibility to embed cultural values more deeply in everyday life.
These values should not be confined to historical sites, festivals, or works of art; they should also inspire national pride, strengthen great national unity, and encourage society as a whole to embrace a cultured and civilised way of life. It is also essential to create favourable conditions for people to participate directly in cultural activities, contribute their creativity, and enjoy cultural products.
In response to Viet Nam Cultural Day 2026, Ha Noi has directed the organisation of activities to honour traditional cultural values; foster patriotism, solidarity, and national pride; and promote cultural, artistic, and sporting programmes suited to the conditions of each locality, thereby enabling broad public participation and access to the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
The launch ceremony marking Viet Nam Cultural Day 2026 demonstrates the capital’s determination and responsibility in preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups. These values have been shaped and sustained by artisans and communities who preserve and practise their heritage, serving as the custodians of their respective cultural identities and passing them down through generations.
A highlight of the ceremony was an elaborately staged artistic performance that traced the country’s cultural unity and the distinctive identities of its three regions, before focusing on the unique cultural features of Thang Long–Ha Noi. The programme then moved on to the official launch ceremony and a community dance celebrating Viet Nam’s ethnic groups.
As part of the event, representatives of Ha Noi and 10 provinces and cities — including Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Son La, Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Hue City and Can Tho City — signed a coordination agreement on joint activities. Connecting Ha Noi with these 10 localities opens opportunities for closer cooperation in organising cultural programmes, helping to ensure that traditional values remain vibrant and relevant in contemporary life.
Held over the weekend, the programme attracted large numbers of residents as well as international visitors. To Thuy Nga, a resident of Tu Liem Ward, Ha Noi, said: “The Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is already a beautiful place, harmoniously integrated with its natural surroundings. The artistic performances, cultural introductions, displays and exhibitions showcasing the cultures of different ethnic groups organised by Ha Noi have made the site even more attractive. We are delighted to have the opportunity to take part.”
Following the launch ceremony, a series of cultural performances and community exchange activities continued through 4 October, showcasing the traditional arts of various ethnic groups, including the Ba Na, Gia Rai, E De, Tay, Thai, Dao, Ta Oi, Co Tu, and Khmer. The programme featured gong performances, xoang dances, solo performances on the T’rung bamboo xylophone, Then singing accompanied by the tinh lute, bell dances, Thai dances, folk songs, folk dances, and community xoe dances. Meanwhile, 16 ethnic community groups based at the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism continued to participate in daily activities at the site.
Combining traditional arts with the cultural heritage of Thang Long–Ha Noi, the launch ceremony marking Viet Nam Cultural Day offered a series of impressive and distinctive highlights. Through the event, Ha Noi has reaffirmed its role as one of the country’s major cultural centres while promoting its millennium-old historical, cultural, and traditional heritage and strengthening connections that help showcase and spread the cultural values of Viet Nam’s 54 ethnic groups.
Following the event, Ha Noi will continue to organise a range of activities to mark Viet Nam Cultural Day, with the main celebrations scheduled for November.
