Fairy and Dragon performance during the opening.

Nhan Dan- Hue Festival 2008 features the participation of 70  programmes of 60 art troupes from 23 countries. This year’s festival has a very impressive opening featuring the theme World Heritage with Integration and Development.

After the opening ceremony, programmes by domestic and international art troupes at 24 stages in Hue introduced specific cultures from each nation. Through the quality of programmes is different, the Hue Festival successfully attracted as many as 60 art troupes from 23 countries.

Another success of this year’s festival is seen in the active participation of the locals. Deputy head of the Hue Festival’s organising board Nguyen Duy Hien said “From a passive role in previous Hue Festivals, Hue local people now are very active as hosts of the event.".

Art performance on Huong river during the festival.

In fact, local people in Hue have contributed a lot to the festival. During the preparatory days for the event, the Hue Festival Centre received positive ideas and opinions from the locals so as to perfect the festival. A student even made a 2 metre high lantern just to introduce to visitors to Hue lanterns. It’s the contributions by the locals all through the event made the Hue Festival 2008 seems more busier and festive.

Many programmes are the focus of the festival. More than 400 people decked out in authentic costumes and played musical instruments while participating in the Xa Tac Devotion Ritual on June 10 as part of the Hue Festival.

The ritual, an offering to the God of Earth and the God of Cereals for favourable weather and bumper crops, appeared on the Hue Festival programme for the first time.

A festival honouring Emperor Quang Trung took place at the city’s Ban Mountain Relic Site, where the hero, Quang Trung held his coronation 220 years ago before heading north to defeat Chinese Qing invaders.

Legend of the Huong River and Royal Palace Night were also two new programmes of this year’s festival.

Ao dai show at Hue Festival.

The traditional Vietnamese long dress (ao dai) was in the spotlight at an ao dai fashion show at the Hien Nhon gate in the ancient imperial city of Hue on June 8 .

As many as 200 ao dais on the theme “Dau xua” (Vestiges of old times) were displayed on an ancient and glistening stage in front of the brilliant Hien Nhon gate, one of the four gates that lead to the Imperial Enclosure (Hoang Thanh).

Other art performances on streets have attracted even a larger number of audiences than those attended at the main events of the festival.

The festival also brought very high results for local businesses. According to Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien – Hue province Ngo Hoa, before 2000, each year the province only had a budget of VND 300 billion, but since the festival has been organised, the province has earned a revenue of VND 1,800 billion. The Festival also help boost investment and employments for the locals.

Many royal rituals are recalled of the festival. However, these royal rituals have yet to become an activity in the daily life. It’s hoped that in the future, such rituals will be not only seen in festive events but is also organised more frequently so that Hue will really be a Festival City.