The art programs in Hue Festival 2020 are expected to make use of local human resources in the province
Making adjustments
The beginning of June 2020 marks only three months left before Hue Festival takes place. 7 countries have informed of their arts delegations’ presence at Hue Festival 2020 should international flights be reinstated. However, at Hue Tourism Forum 2020, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has raised the faint possibility of international delegations’ participation. Accordingly, Hue Festival 2020 will be a festival where the key participants are the art troupes and artists based nationwide.
Mr. Huynh Tien Dat, Director of Hue Festival Center, Vice Head of Hue Festival 2020 Organizing Committee affirmed that adjustments to the festival’s main contents, events, and programs had been made to cope with the new situation.
Specifically, the main festival programs now include the opening ceremony (8:00PM Aug 28, 2020 at Ngo Mon Square); the street festival (4:30PM from Aug 29 to Sep 2); the food festival themed "Hue – Kingdom of gastronomy" (from Aug 29 to Sep 2 at Thuong Bac Park); the Trinh Cong Son music concert (8PM Aug 31, 2020 at Ngo Mon stage); the EDM festival (8:30PM, Sep 1 at Tu Do Stadium); and the closing ceremony (8PM Sep 2 at Ngo Mon Square) with the Ao Dai show in lieu of the art program “Van hien Kinh ky” (Hue Royal Essences) as planned.
Tinh Tam Lake under renovation for the Ao Dai heritage show in Hue Festival 2020
An exclusive program in Hue Festival 2020 called "Who named the river" is taking place at Nghinh Luong Dinh Welcome Pavilion on the evening of August 30. According to the Organizing Committee, this art program, inspired by ample historical materials on the poetic Huong River, promises to surprise the audience as it unravels the mysteries of Hue and the Huong River using fascinating storytelling techniques on a stunning performance stage.
Street festivals with the participation of many local and international art troupes are the renowned highlights of Hue Festival. However, given the current situation, appropriate adjustments must be made to the street festivals as well.
Representative of the Organizing Committee shared that in addition to the performances of art troupes in public, folk and community activities would be promoted in the festival. For 5 consecutive days, the street festivals will feature the Mother Goddess procession (Rước Mẫu) on the Perfume River (incorporated in the Hon Chen Palace festival); the procession of Tuồng mask from Thanh Binh ancestral hall along the roads in the North bank of the Huong River; the traditional costumes and culture show of ASEAN countries; and the re-enactment of folk performances and festivals.
Mr. Huynh Tien Dat said that the organizers would mobilize local art units namely Hue Dramatic Arts Theater, Hue Traditional Royal Theater of Art, Hue Academy of Music…, student clubs, and local art troupes to participate. Domestic art troupes are also building and adjusting their performances accordingly. It is expected that by early July 2020, the full list of delegations to Hue Festival 2020 will be released.
Recently, the provincial People's Committee has informed that in Hue Festival this year, Hue Ao Dai Days will be introduced alongside activities such as the pilgrimage to commemorate the father of Ao dai – Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat; Ao Dai heritage fashion show, Ao Dai campaign for the general public ... In particular, the traditional Ao Dai show will be held at Tinh Tam Lake.
Free admission to heritage sites throughout the 6-day festival
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of Hue Festival 2020 Organizing Committee Phan Ngoc Tho affirmed that Hue Festival 2020 marked a turning point for boosting Hue tourism, so entrance fee to heritage sites would be fully waived within the festival’s framework.
Similarly, most of the key events and programs in Hue Festival 2020 are ticket-free. Entrance fee is applied only to the opening and closing ceremonies to control the number of audience and ensure the safety of the community and tourists at the events.
The Organizing Committee added that Hue Festival 2020 was expected to attract a wider young audience, so in addition to selecting and adjusting appropriate art programs, the organizers also include more thrilling sports and community activities such as Stand up paddle (SUP) race on the Huong River ...
To bring Hue Festival closer to the community, the Organizing Committee is building an open space for performances. The two main stages for arts troupes’ performances are placed at Ngo Mon Square and Quoc Hoc Monument. Nguyen Dinh Chieu walking street, the pedestrian wooden bridge, Ly Tu Trong Park, Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An and Vo Thi Sau pedestrian streets are designated areas for contemporary arts.
Story and photos: Quang Sang