In September 2001, a year after the first festival organised in Hue, Thua Thien Hue People’s Committee submitted the project “Developing Hue into a special festival city of Vietnam” which was subsequently the Prime Minister. Two more festivals were organised in 2002 and 2004. The city now qualifies as a festival city of Vietnam.
Hue has all the essential conditions to become a festival city: historical and cultural relics, landscapes and festivities, traditional and social advantages, experiences and creativity. The city is the native land of famous artists, historians and writers. The people are intelligent, friendly and hospitable. Evidently, the government is right to choose Hue as a special festival city in Vietnam. Therefore, the local authorities and people must do their utmost to develop the city in the right direction.
The city will develop the tangible and non-tangible cultural values of Hue and Vietnam as a whole: landscapes and architectures, natural environment and way of life, gastronomy and costumes, behaviour and social manners.
Currently, the Hue Festival is organised every two years. Therefore, the environment and infrastructure are important for the city and surrounding areas to organise such activities.
It is equally important for the city to preserve and develop non-tangible cultural values. Art troupes are being re-organised, festivities and court ceremonies reinstated, traditional gastronomy and costumes restored. In addition to traditional arts, the province is also developing modern arts to make the festival more attractive.
Hue continues to upgrade and develop urban infrastructure with a plan of becoming a city of national standard, and together with related authorities, accelerates the renovation the ancient royal capital and restoration of ancient streets in Gia Hoi (Hue), Bao Vinh (Huong Tra) and garden houses in Kim Long, Nguyet Bieu and Vi Da.
With existing potentials and advantages, the local authorities and people are trying their best to make Hue a truly special festival city of Vietnam.
Ngo Hoa
Vice-Chairman of Thua Thien Hue province
Head of Festival 2006 Organising Committee
Vietnamese
