The Vietnamese Traditional Culture Festival and International Cultural Exchange 2019 will be held from April 5 to 9 at the historic Thang Long Citadel in Hanoi.

The unique festival aims to preserve traditional Vietnamese culture and build international cultural friendships.

The opening ceremony of the "Vietnamese Traditional Culture Festival and International Cultural Exchange 2019" will take place on the evening of April 5 and present the culture of Vietnam's three regions with special performances directed by renowned stage director Van Nguyen and a puppet show entitled "Country’s Soul" by director and People's Artist Vuong Duy Bien.

Ms. Ho Nhu Quynh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Conservation and Development Club and Head of the festival’s Organizing Committee, said it is a special occasion for lovers of Vietnamese culture to learn more about its diversity. Throughout the five days of the festival there will be unique folk performances and many cultural exchange activities. Thirty embassies and general consular representatives will also participate.

The highlight is the ornate space of Thang Long Citadel, in which will be recreations of old Vietnamese landscapes with bamboo trees, wells, thatched roof houses, craft villages, and rural markets, etc. A miniature of the royal space and the emperors’ dressing room will also be built to entertain visitors.

On the Sunday morning of April 7, to mark the death anniversary of Emperor Ly Cong Uan (974 -1028), the Organizing Committee plans to recreate rituals to honor the emperor as well as pray for country’s security and prosperity. Within the framework of the festival, there will many other cultural activities such as “ao dai” (traditional Vietnamese costume) performances, folk singing, and traditional martial arts.

Other activities include cultural research seminars on feng shui art, ancestor worship rituals, and Mother Goddess rituals.

The festival is also a place to connect Vietnamese people with international friends. There are 300 booths displaying and introducing traditional Vietnamese and international products to promote the image of the country and create a venue for handicraft enterprises to meet and trade together.

Some 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the colorful five-day festival.