More than 400 activities celebrate national cultural identity

Speaking at a press conference held in Hanoi on November 5, Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Department of Press under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that Viet Nam Cultural Day 2026 would be held in conjunction with the National Great Unity Day and the 80th anniversary of the first National Cultural Conference (November 24, 1946 - November 24, 2026). The activities aim to honour national cultural identity, foster solidarity and create opportunities for people to directly participate in, create and enjoy cultural activities.

The press conference announcing Viet Nam Cultural Day in conjunction with the National Great Unity Day 2026 and the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the first National Cultural Conference. (Photo: Pham Ly)

As of November 5, a total of 406 cultural, artistic and sporting programmes, exhibitions, displays and community exchanges had been prepared nationwide. All 34 provinces and centrally governed cities had issued plans for organising activities in response to the occasion.

Notably, audiences will be able to enjoy free film screenings at cinemas from November 22 to 24, as part of the Film Week celebrating the 8th Hanoi International Film Festival and Viet Nam Cultural Day, taking place from November 18 to 24. Mobile film screenings will also be organised to bring cinematic works to remote and disadvantaged areas, border regions, islands and localities without cinemas.

People will also have the opportunity to participate directly in cultural creation through the programme “Sounds of Viet Nam. Melodies of Life”, running from October 12 to November 30 under the message “One person, one melody. Millions of people together create the sound of Viet Nam”. Participants can share videos featuring melodies associated with everyday life, explore musical knowledge or create works incorporating traditional folk cultural elements. The programme offers total prizes worth VND 175 million, with selected works scheduled to be presented in a public performance on November 24.

Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Department of Press under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Pham Ly)

A new initiative to improve public access to cultural activities is the Viet Nam Cultural Digital Map Platform (CMAP), launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on November 1 at the Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy in Hanoi. Through cmap.vn, residents and visitors can explore events, activities and cultural destinations nationwide. Information on the platform will continue to be updated before, during and after Viet Nam Cultural Day.

A key event during the occasion will be the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the first National Cultural Conference, scheduled for 9 a.m. on November 24 at Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi. The event will be broadcast live on VTV1 and VOV1. The 1946 conference marked an important milestone in the development of Vietnamese culture and was closely associated with President Ho Chi Minh's views on the role of culture in the cause of national construction and defence.

A vibrant celebration of cultural diversity

In Hanoi, the opening ceremony of “Viet Nam Cultural Day in Hanoi” will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on November 21 in the area around the King Ly Thai To Monument, beside Hoan Kiem Lake. During the morning, residents and visitors can watch a heritage parade combined with artistic performances. From November 21 to 24, cultural experience spaces and artistic stages will continue operating around the lake, including at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, the Martyrs' Monument and the Trang Tien - Hang Khay area.

A highlight in the capital will be a special artistic programme at 8 p.m. on November 24 at My Dinh National Stadium, expected to welcome approximately 50,000 spectators. The programme will combine artistic performances with fireworks and be broadcast live on VTV1 and digital platforms.

In Hue, a series of activities from November 22 to 24 will offer audiences programmes such as “Hue Love Songs” and artistic performances honouring Vietnamese and Hue heritage, alongside spaces where visitors can experience traditional ao dai, Hue folk singing, bai choi folk games, handicrafts, cuisine and reading culture. The public can also visit a digital exhibition featuring poems by Emperor Thieu Tri at the Museum of Royal Antiquities of Hue, scheduled to open on November 22.

Various forms of traditional cultural heritage will also be showcased in localities nationwide. Bac Ninh will host a festival featuring original Quan Ho folk singing villages from November 16 to 18, followed by Quan Ho performances on boats on the evening of November 23. Quang Ninh will organise a community ethnic culture festival on November 15 and an artistic programme promoting Yen Tu heritage on November 20. In Lang Son, residents can enjoy performances showcasing Xu Lang heritage on the evening of November 23 and a mass Chau dance performance on the morning of November 24. Ca Mau plans to organise artistic activities associated with ethnic cultures, don ca tai tu folk music and traditional Khmer music, while Gia Lai will showcase gong culture and offer heritage experiences throughout November.

In Khanh Hoa, residents and visitors can take part in performances and cultural experiences showcasing Cham culture at Po Nagar Cham Towers and Po Klong Garai Tower. Notably, the province plans to offer free admission to locally managed historical and cultural sites on November 24.

In the southern region, activities will feature the distinctive cultural identity of the river-based way of life. Can Tho is preparing to stage “The Sounds of the Hau River” on November 24, alongside activities under the Ooc Om Boc - Ngo Boat Racing Festival and the River Culture Festival. Vinh Long plans to hold its Culture, Sports and Tourism Week from November 18 to 24 in conjunction with the Ok Om Bok Festival. The programme will feature a Southern Vietnamese cuisine space with 50 booths, Ngo boat races on November 21 and 22, and a festival night at Ba Om Pond on November 24.

Many localities will also organise artistic performances in public spaces, fine arts and photography exhibitions, book introductions, handicraft displays and community-based cultural experience activities.

Viet Nam Cultural Day will also be introduced to international audiences. According to Vi Thanh Hoai, Deputy Director of the Department of Grassroots Culture, Information and Family, information about Viet Nam Cultural Day has been shared with foreign correspondents and incorporated into diplomatic activities. Vietnamese representative missions abroad have also been informed so that they can organise appropriate activities in response, depending on their local conditions, thereby contributing to the promotion of Vietnamese culture around the world.

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