Vietnam: Toward the 2012 National Tourism Year

The city of Hue (also known as Phu Xuan, Thua Thien Hue Province) dates back more than 700 years. Hue was a political and economic center of the Dang Trong, the section from the Gianh River to the south and the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty, and is the former capital of the country.

Hue has treasured the image of a former capital with hundreds of sophisticated pagodas which reflect culture and beautiful landscapes in Vietnam such as Huong (perfume) River, Ngu Mountain, Bach Ma Mountain, Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach and Tam Giang Lagoon. In addition, the city has continued to preserve objects and heritage sites which have close attachment with revolutionary activities of Ho Chi Minh President.

The city is endowed with magnificent landscapes and rich cultural reserves and through successful international and national cultural and sport activities which have been organized in recent years, it is obvious that Thua Thien Hue Province has favorable conditions to host the National Tourism Year. Following prime ministerial approval, the province has urgently drafted a plan on National Tourism Year for submission to the National Steering Committee. The province proposed to explore the theme of "Hue: The Old Capital-New Experiences. "Through numerous cultural activities, Hue and Vietnamese culture have become better known not only within the country but also regionally and globally. The number of tourists to Hue and Vietnam has increased rapidly. This proves the attractiveness of Hue and Vietnam in general as a wonderful tourist destination.

Thua Thien Hue has proposed programs for the 2012 National Tourism Year. The province will host an open Bach Ma Mountain climbing event, a cultural, sport and tourism festival of Vietnamese ethnic groups in the central and Tay Nguyen (Highland) region, a provincial music festival featuring cultural heritage recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an international tourism festival themed " Hue - Vietnam - a Meeting Place of World Cultural Heritage" promoting the tourism potential of different provinces, Buddha's birthday festival at solemn and peaceful Hue pagodas, a lantern festival on the Huong River, the 2012 Hue Festival, a Tam Giang Lagoon discovery program, and a cultural and cuisine festival. Among those programs, the 2012 Hue Festival will be core of the event.

The 2012 Hue Festival will be organized from April 7-15, 2012 under the theme "Cultural Heritage combined with Economic Development and International Integration. "The festival will be a meeting point of global cultural heritage and historical cities from different continents. On the festival sideline, the 13th plenum of the Association of Historical Cities Meeting will be held. The festival continues considering France as its main partner. In addition, cultural and artistic troupes from some other countries will be invited to take part in the event. Performers from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces will take part in the festival.

The 2012 Hue Festival will be held in the city of Hue and surrounding districts. The solemn beauty of the Forbidden Citadel and Huong River will play host to the events. Service supply centers will be established on Gia Hoi and other streets along the Huong River in Phu Cat such as Trinh Cong Son and Nguyen Dinh Chieu streets.

Apart from artistic programs reflecting Hue culture which have been held in previous festivals, the Royal Night (Dem Hoang Cung) and Ao Dai (long dress) Festival will act as the centerpieces. Community programs will be held to attract the participation of locals and tourists such as the village festival in Phuoc Tich and a countryside market festival in Thanh Toan. In addition, some special programs highlighting the 325th anniversary of Nguyen Phuc Khanh's establishment of the capital of Dang Trong in Hue will be held.

Thua Thien Hue has cooperated with other provinces to organize the National Tourism Year through enhancing communications programs in the mass media and organizing fairs and exhibitions. Other provinces have held programs such as fireworks festival in Da Nang, old street night in Quang Nam, the Vietnam Grotto Festival in Quang Binh, Lam Kinh Festival in Thanh Hoa and Sen Village Festival in Nghe An…

In addition, Thua Thien Hue has worked with other provinces to develop tourism programs such as one destination, five world heritage sites, Hue and the journey to Vietnam's capitals, Hue on the legendary green path, Indochina: three old capitals - a destination, Hanoi - Hue - Sai Gon … The province believes that with longstanding historical and cultural traditions, through the organization of the 2012 National Tourism Year, the province will advertise its cultural values, unique world cultural and natural heritages over the country and the world, contributing to heightening the position of the country in the international arena, creating a foundation for the city of Hue to become a centrally governed city, and a center of culture and tourism, science and technology, education and training and healthcare.
(Source: VEN)