The hour-and-a-half performance brought the audience back to the glorious victory of the war against enemies, evoking the public pride of the national tradition and inspiring hope for a brighter future.

It highlighted the resilience and bravery of Hanoians during the war, showcasing their ongoing dedication to the city's development.

The vivid opening ceremony of the Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival 2024. Photo: Le Nam/The Hanoi Times

Set against a backdrop of soulful music, the performance featured a stunning lighting system and captivating displays by models showcasing exquisite Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) designed by renowned Vietnamese designers, including Duc Hung, Do Trinh Hoai Nam, Quang Hoa, Cao Minh Tien, and Miss Ngoc Han.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha, highlighted that Hanoi boasts three UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritages and nearly 10,000 tangible and intangible cultural treasures, as well as traditional handicraft villages.

To cultivate a culture that reflects the rich thousand-year tradition of Thang Long - Hanoi, the city is committed to preserving and promoting its tangible and intangible cultural heritage, as well as its invaluable relics and architectural treasures.

The opening ceremony of the festival.

Additionally, the capital is dedicated to developing cultural and tourism products with international appeal, seamlessly blending the preservation of cultural identity with economic growth. In this vision, culture and the people serve as both the ultimate goal and the driving force behind the city’s development.

“The Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival is an annual cultural event that contributes to the preservation and development of traditional values, celebrating and highlighting the unique beauty of Vietnamese culture through the Ao dai,” she stated.

“The festival contributes to opening a new direction in the development of culture and tourism in the capital, helping to establish Vietnam and Hanoi as favored destinations and top choices for both domestic and international travelers. It reinforces Hanoi’s title as ‘the Asia Leading City Destination’ as recognized by the World Travel Awards,” she emphasized.

This is the third year of the Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival. The festival is elaborately organized on a large scale, featuring nearly 100 booths and the participation of 85 ao dai designers from the North, Central, and South regions, along with travel agencies and airline ticket sales, among others.

Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, delivers the opening speech at the event.

To take place from October 4 to October 6 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, 19C Hoang Dieu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, the Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival 2024 offers visitors a rich array of engaging experiences with a double-decker bus tour titled “The Quintessence of Ao Dai,” an Ao Dai Carnival with nearly 1,000 participants, and a stunning opening ceremony.

At the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the festival's main venue, visitors can explore a variety of ao dai collections, witness the silk production process demonstrated by artisans from Van Phuc silk village, and observe the ao dai sewing techniques of artisans from Trach Xa Ao Dai craft village. Attendees can also participate in traditional folk games and savor Hanoi cuisine at the culinary space of “Thang Long Ngu Vi” or “Five Tastes of Hanoi Culinary”.

Heroic moments in Hanoi's history re-enacted on the stage.

A vivid art performance.

The annual festival aims to praise Vietnamese traditional Ao dai and Hanoi culture.