The event was attended by Le Thanh Long, member of the Party Central Committee (PCC), Deputy Prime Minister; Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, PCC member, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; Le Quoc Minh, PCC member, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the PCC’s Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilisation, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association; and Doan Minh Huan, Secretary of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, highlighted the festival's role in continuing and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Hoa Lu in modern times. He stressed that the festival remains a vital tradition, which has been practised and passed down through generations, deeply connecting the local community, the nation, and international visitors.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long affirmed that Ninh Binh is a land imbued with the nation's historical and cultural values, especially Hoa Lu Citadel, where hero Dinh Bo Linh ascended the throne and established the capital of Dai Co Viet — Vietnam's first centralised feudal state — marking the beginning of feudal dynasties in the nation's history.
Today, Hoa Lu Festival is a national intangible cultural heritage and one of the outstanding representative heritages. It has become a rich spiritual and cultural activity for the people of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and the country as a whole.
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Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long speaks at the ceremony. |
On behalf of the Party and state leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long praised Ninh Binh's commitment and achievements in preserving its historical, cultural, and natural heritage, especially the valuable traditions of Hoa Lu Festival. He acknowledged its importance in showcasing Vietnam's landscapes and culture.
He requested Ninh Binh Province to focus on leading and directing the effective implementation of set goals, while considering tourism and cultural industries as key sectors, applying scientific and technological advancements, fostering innovation, and utilising digital transformation as breakthroughs. He urged the province to further promote the outstanding universal value of the Trang An Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, as well as to pursue sustainable development and ensure harmony between economic growth and socio-cultural development, environmental protection, and national defence and security.
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Delegates attend the opening ceremony. |
During the event, local people and tourists enjoyed a special artistic programme with the participation of hundreds of artists.
Hoa Lu Festival 2025 is taking place from April 6-8 (the 9th - 11th day of the third lunar month of the year) at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Relic Site in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu City.
Apart from traditional activities, this year's festival features many new events, including: a scientific seminar on the life and career of Pham Thi Tran — the founder of Vietnamese theatre; a scientific seminar and exhibition on "Attire and Ancient Costumes of Dinh Dynasty"; Ninh Binh tourism promotion activities; and the organisation of spaces to display and introduce history, culture, handicraft products, OCOP products, and typical goods and services from the province's districts and cities.