Present at the opening ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, and a number of domestic and foreign officials.

Chairman of the central Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Thien, affirmed that great festival of culture and tourism aims to promote the unique cultural values of Vietnam and the ancient city of Hue. It will also help to expand international integration and accelerate socio-economic development.

The festival started with Dem Hoi Hoang Cung (Royal Palace Festival Night) with the participation of artists from 62 domestic and foreign art troupes and thousands of Hue citizens and visitors.

In addition to performances by Vietnamese artists, foreign art troupes also joined the opening ceremony entitled “Meeting 2008”, such as Chinese dancers doing the traditional silk dance, a Japanese group performing the Yosudake Odori dance, and Belgium artists with Vietnamese conical hats walking on stilts. Artists from the Republic of Korea presented a fan dance while French artists wearing the Vietnamese Ao Dai (traditional long dress) played bronze wind instruments. Russian children from the Kalinka troupe also performed an eye-catching traditional dance.

From June 4, a series of art performances and other activities such as circus shows, street performances, and exhibitions will take place at Dai Noi (Royal Palace), An Dinh Palace, and other locations around the city.

The five main events including the King Quang Trung’s Coronation Ceremony on Ban Mountain, a Heaven Worshiping Ritual at Nam Giao, a revival of the Military Doctorate Examination under the Nguyen Dynasty, a Land Worshiping Ritual at Xa Tac and a programme on the Legend of the Huong River will be highlights of the festival.