May 2006:
- An international sculpture camp entitled ‘Impression of Hue and Vietnam in 2006’
- First international music composition camp in Vietnam with a meeting programme within the Vietnam-EU Cultural Year,
- Hue Poetry Festival, with impressive meeting of ‘beauties of Vietnamese ancient capital cities,’ and
- Many other cultural, art, tourist and sport activities.
From June 3, 2006, for nine days and nights:
- On June 3, 2006 evening: A jubilant opening ceremony of the Festival Hue 2006 takes place at the Ngo Mon Square with performances on stage and folk games, as well as fireworks arts of famous artist Pierre Alain Hubert;
- From June 3, 2006, many art performances take place at Dai Noi (Imperial Palace) and An Dinh Palace, where Hue royal chamber music and arts of different parts of Vietnam are performed alongside art performances from France, drama from China, classic dances from Russia, songs and dances from Thailand and Indonesia, and tango dance from Argentina, chamber music from the Republic of Korea and Japan;
- In particular, in each three-day tour, there is a ‘Hue Royal Night’ programme at Dai Noi with the reappearance of a fanciful space of Hue, consisting of performances of royal songs and dances, royal chamber music, Hue drama and Hue songs, with royal cuisines, drinks and cakes. Other entertainment activities, such as a darts match and poetry contests of the ancient imperial town are also reproduced;
- In particular, a Doctor Proclamation Ceremony (including the welcoming escort of new doctors back to their native villages to say thanks to their ancestors after achieving academic honors) has been reintroduced for the first time at the Festival Hue 2006. The ceremony consists of the proclamation of doctors and the procession of roll of honour from Ngo Mon to Phu Van Lau, and the escort of doctors to the royal palace for a party, and back to their native villages;
- The Nam Giao Festival is also completely reintroduced as a royal sub-festival in Vietnam. The procession of Nam Giao starts from Dai Noi to Nam Giao worshipping place, and the procession of Nam Giao back to Dai Noi;
- The Festival Hue 2006 continues to introduce the unique beauty of Vietnamese ao dai (long dress), and ao dai of Hue, which have been modified to match with the present time. The demonstration of ao dai takes place on the Truong Tien bridge and near the Huong river;
- A ceremony for reception of the UNESCO’s certificate, recognising the Central Highlands gong arts as a world cultural heritage will also be part of at the Festival Hue 2006 with the image of a traditional house in the Central Highlands, god worshipping ceremony and gong festival, and elephant hunting techniques of Don village, Buon Ma Thuot;
- Cultural and tourist activities take place in the Hue ancient imperial city and localities near by, such festivals of Tam Giang lagoon, Truong Son mountain, and the Bach Ma-Lang Co-Canh Duong, and pilgrimages to famous ancient pagodas of Hue, the image of weeding in ancient Hue;
- On the Huong river, the Huong Giang festival is held alongside with the performance of arrangement art of Australian artists; and
- The Festival Hue 2006 fair is organised by the Thua Thien-Hue Physical Education and Sports Centre along with international seminars and conferences on health, Nom characters, production and tourist co-operation.
A new life cycle is beginning and Thua Thien-Hue is entering what is set to be a new and impressive festive and tourist season.
M.T
Vietnamese
