Your Ultimate Guide to the Hue Festival

Started from 2000, Hue Festival was Vietnam’s first, and most popular international and national festival. It attracts massive crowds who come to celebrate Hue’s rich culture and heritage as well as to see a more lively side of the city. The events of the festival are not repeated, though you can expect a nice blend of traditional ceremonies and art performances.

In 2020, celebrating its 20th year in the running, Hue Festival’s theme is: “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development; Hue: Always Something New to Discover”, which promises to give us a new way to experience this ancient city.

Essential Information of the Hue Festival

Time:

April/June/July biennially
In 2020: April 1st - 6th

Location:

At venues in the city center, the Citadel, An Dinh Palace, Trinh Cong Son Park, Ngo Mon Park, and Da Vien Bridge Park

Website:

Hue Festival

Performance inside the Citadel

Fee (per ticket) for 2020:

Only 5 programs will require a ticket, including:

• Grand Opening Ceremony: VND 200,000
• Nightly art performances inside the Citadel: VND 100,000
• Nightly art performances inside the An Dinh Palace: VND 50,000
• Ao Dai Fashion Show: VND 150,000
• Closing Ceremony: VND 150,000

Children under 1.2 meters: Free entrance

What to Look Out for in the Hue Festival 2020?

Nam Giao Offering Ritual

Time: 1 AM, April 1st, 2020

Location: Nam Giao Esplanade

Nam Giao Offering Ritual was the most important ceremony during the Nguyen dynasty. It was held to honor Heaven and Earth and to pray for the country’s peace and prosperity. Since 2006, Hue Festival has recreated a part of this sacred ritual, on the ground of the Hue Monument Complex.

Nam Giao Offering Ritual is one of the irreplaceable activities of Hue Festival

Royal Hue’s Essence

Time: 8 PM, April 3rd, 2020

Location: The Citadel

This show recreates the course of history and life in 19th century Vietnam through fascinating traditional art performances. You’ll see how we construct, unify, and protect our land and peace for the people.

A show of history, culture, and art

Ao Dai Fashion Show

Time: 8 PM, April 5th, 2020

Location: Truong Tien Bridge

When we talk about Vietnamese costume, we talk about Ao Dai - our most famous and proud garment. So for those who love fashion, don’t miss this show. The creators will walk you through alluring designs while introducing Ao Dai’s meaning in Hue locals’ daily lives.

Ao Dai Fashion Show is a successful attempt in preserving the beauty of Hue’s ao dai

Cuisine Festival: Hue – Capital of Gastronomy

Time: All-day, April 2 to April 6, 2020

Location: Thuong Bac Park

Being Vietnam’s former capital, Hue preserves one of the most sophisticated culinary identities throughout the country. There are many must-try Hue dishes that have become stable food just like pho and banh mi. So to showcase this, Hue Festival offers visitors a chance to taste all of Hue’s goodness in this culinary festival.

Don’t forget to try Bun Bo Hue - a specialty of Vietnam’s Central region

Other fun activities that you can attend are the International Dance Festival 2020 and Trinh Cong Son’s Music Concert (Trinh Cong Son was a highly influential figure to Modern Vietnamese music). And throughout the festival, there will be local and international art troupes performances on the street and in venues across Hue City like inside the Imperial City.

So Should You Join the Hue Festival?

The Hue Festival will be a nice touch to the routine tour around Hue’s royal tombs and pagodas. Not only can it enliven your experience, but it can also reveal to you a whole new side of the city: lively and colorful. In case you miss Hue Festival, check out its alternative - Hue Traditional Craft Festival - that happens biennially to praise Vietnamese craftsmanship (the latest was in 2019).

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