HÀ NỘI — The first Cultures of the World Festival in Hà Nội has achieved great success, drawing more than one million visitors over its three days of organisation from October 10-12, according to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng.

The festival brought together the participation of 48 countries and international organisations, featuring many unique cultural spaces and events such as the Cultural Path exhibition, the Heritage Footsteps performance, the Áo Dài (Long Dress) Festival, film screenings, a book fair and 30 international art performance programmes.

The minister remarked that the festival successfully created a space to showcase and promote the diversity and richness of various cultures; strengthened cooperation between nations in cultural matters in accordance with UNESCO's principles, and affirmed the pioneering role of culture in fostering international cooperation.

With the message The World Beats in Unison with Love, the organisers conducted a charity auction and fundraising programme that raised a total of VNĐ2.5 billion (US$104,000).

The entire amount raised will be transferred to localities in Việt Nam affected by flooding, to support the reconstruction of lives for the people. This conveys a powerful message about the spirit of sharing and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The minister highlighted the importance of culture in the national development strategy: “Sustainable, creative and inclusive development has become the goal of many countries around the world, and Việt Nam is no exception to this common trajectory. The Vietnamese government has identified sustainable development based on cultural and human development as the foundation.”

He noted that Việt Nam is an active and responsible member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), always upholding the tradition of peace-loving and considering the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values as a tribute to traditions and a guarantee of development rights for future generations.

According to him, the first Cultures of the World Festival in Hà Nội is a vivid testament to the above statement. This festival originated from the initiative of General Secretary Tô Lâm’s spouse, Ngô Phương Ly, regarding the organisation of an international cultural event in the capital city of Hà Nội where the unique beauty of each country is celebrated.

He believed that future editions would continue to leave a profound impression on both domestic and international visitors.— VNS