The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by Mr. Phan Ngoc Tho, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and other distinguished guests.
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| The provincial leaders and the organizing committee carried out the opening ceremony |
The "Hue Lotus Festival 2023 – Lotus Beautifies Hue" is part of the Hue Summer Festivals 2023 and aims to honor the value of the lotus in the spiritual life of the people of Hue, affirm and promote the brand of Hue lotus to a wide range of domestic and international visitors, and provide an opportunity for locals and tourists to admire the beauty of Hue lotus and indulge in lotus cuisine.
With its beautiful scenery, historical significance, and a water surface covered by the rare and precious ancient white lotus species of Hue, Tinh Tam Lake is the most suitable choice for the Hue Lotus Festival 2023. For the first time, the green space and the remaining architectural structures of the imperial palaces on Bong Lai Island and Phuong Truong Island within the Tinh Tam Lake area are vividly revived with artistic exhibitions on lotus, culinary stalls, culinary performances, and discussions on the culinary values of Hue lotus.
The unique colors of Hue's tourism destination will also be promoted through images of Hue lotus, associated with the main content of the festival program. Specifically, the pure and pristine white color will mark the opening of the festival and the debut of collections of Ao dai inspired by the white lotus of the imperial palaces.
The gentle and cool green color will introduce Hue lotus cuisine. Lotus cuisine will be showcased on Phuong Truong Island on Tinh Tam Lake throughout the festival program, with over 40 stalls designed with eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, rattan, lotus leaves, and lotus flowers. Here, the culinary essence of Hue, from royal dishes to traditional and vegetarian cuisine, as well as unique beverages made from lotus, will be displayed and served.
Moreover, this will be the first culinary festival in Hue organized with a green criterion, from processing ingredients to serving utensils, contributing to enhancing the image of Hue as a green tourist destination in Vietnam.
The ancient capital’s purple color is associated with an art exhibition and a symposium on lotus cuisine.
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| Visitors can admire the exhibited paintings at the festival |
Within the framework of the festival program, the symposium on Hue lotus cuisine is one of the highlights of Hue Lotus Festival 2023, providing attendees with information and knowledge about lotus. Talk shows will be organized with the participation of renowned experts in culture, philosophy, and cuisine, including the "Nutrition of Hue Lotus Cuisine" symposium with nutrition expert Mai Hang; the "Zen and Lotus" symposium with Prof. Dr. Thai Kim Lan; and the "Worship of Lotus Offerings to Emperors" symposium with Dr. Tran Dinh Hang - Head of the Institute of Culture and Arts of Vietnam in Hue.
In addition, the art exhibition "Life of Lotus" by the photographer Nguyen Khoa Huy will be featured as part of Hue Lotus Festival 2023. With great love for lotus and Hue, the photographer will narrate a story to the public about the powerful and enduring vitality of the lotus flower through descriptive angles, aiming to honor the artistic beauty and unique value of this species.
Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Tourism, stated that this is a meaningful program. It is hoped that this year's Hue Lotus Festival 2023 will contribute to affirming Hue's title as the Festival City of Vietnam, gradually building the image of Hue as the festival capital. Additionally, it aims to diversify activities for tourists during their experience and sightseeing in Thua Thien Hue province, encouraging them to extend their stay and increase their spending in Hue. At the same time, it creates opportunities for tourism service businesses to showcase their products and establish connections among various economic components to create a unified tourism product for Thua Thien Hue province.
Some images captured by Thua Thien Hue Online during the event:
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| A large number of residents and tourists attending the Hue Lotus Festival |
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| Tourists learning about conical hats made from lotus leaves and various products made from lotus |
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| Food stalls at the festival |
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| Arranging lotus flowers for making lotus tea |
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| Ingredients for lotus tea |
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| Enjoying a cup of tea together |
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| Fashion show featuring the Lotus Ao dai collection by designer Viet Bao |