Twenty six countries, including new comers Senegal, Cuba and Mongolia, will take part in Hue Festival in June, the festival` organizing board said.
As host, Vietnam will introduce its cultural heritage and hold traditional programs such as Ao dai Show, Royal Night, Huong River legend. A new event called Eastern Night will feature traditional costumes from nine Asian countries. A forum to introduce ancient capitals of the world will be held with a fine art program and exhibition. It is the first time an African country has been represented, the organizers said.
This year`s festival has expanded from the inner city with events to be held throughout the province of Thua Thien-Hue, so that more people can enjoy it and visitors can see more of the province.
First launched in 2000, Festival Hue is a biennial celebration that is one of the biggest attractions on the cultural calendar with a diverse program of theatre, music, dance, circus art and puppetry. The festival presents a range of work by visiting artists from international countries in addition to showcasing dance and music performances of the Hue court with traditional Hue singing and dancing. Most of the festival activities are held at the Hue Citadel, a beautiful palace on the banks of the Huong (Perfume) River.