Experience Hanoi’s culture across 16 days of festivities
The striking festival next month in Hanoi's landmarks invites locals and tourists to connect deeply with the timeless cultural spirit of Vietnam’s capital.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi’s iconic sites will be brought to life from November 1 to 16 through more than 30 cultural, artistic and tourism activities held as part of the Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2025.
Watching Hanoi’s traditional water puppetry is a must-see experience for visitors to the city. Photo: KLook Travel
With the theme “Heritage - Connection - Time,” the cultural event will be held in many of Hanoi’s typical cultural landmarks, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature, Hanoi Museum and the pedestrian zones around Hoan Kiem Lake.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for the evening of November 7 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, while the closing ceremony will take place on the evening of November 16 at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.
Dao Xuan Dung, Deputy Head of the municipal Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, said that by organizing this event, Hanoi places culture and its people at the heart of its development strategy, recognizing them as the city’s core strength for sustainable growth.
“The Thang Long-Hanoi Festival 2025 seeks to attract tourists and affirm Hanoi as both Vietnam’s political and cultural center, showcasing the nation’s diverse cultures and promoting Vietnamese heritage,” he stated.
A scene from the Ngoc Son Mysterious Night theatrical performance. Photo: Minh An/ The Hanoi Times
Le Thi Anh Mai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, said that the festival offers a chance to showcase Hanoi's integration, creativity and responsibility in heritage preservation, transforming traditional values into fresh inspiration for art, tourism and modern life.
She said the festival will offer memorable experiences for visitors, with most events held on weekends, aiming to promote Hanoi as a dynamic and creative city of festivals.
At the Temple of Literature, the “Heritage Convergence” program will present traditional crafts from Thang Long (Hanoi), Hue, Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) and the Central Highlands.
Other highlights include the “Ao Dai on the Heritage Road” fashion show, the “Thanh Tan Hanoi” painting exhibition, the art performance “Oh Hanoi,” the “Heritage and the Future” exhibition, an international symposium on East–West heritage and the art show “Red River Calls the Great Forest.”
Tug-of-war is played worldwide, but Hanoi’s sitting tug-of-war adds a unique and lively twist to the traditional game. Photo: Huy Pham/ The Hanoi Times
At the Hanoi Museum, visitors can explore the exhibition “Archaeological Discoveries from the Vuon Chuoi Relic” and the “Solo Puppetry” space, where traditional puppetry is reimagined through performances and interactive activities.
A special highlight is the international art show “Eternal Moment,” featuring Swiss composer Dominique Barthassat and Hanoi’s creative community groups.
The Hanoi Ao Dai Tourism Festival 2025, held from November 7 to 9 at the Hanoi Museum and Hoan Kiem Lake, will celebrate the beauty of the traditional Ao Dai and the capital’s cultural and tourism values.
The event will also include the expanded Hanoi Puppetry Festival with the play “Thang Long Capital,” the art show “Ngoc Son Mysterious Night,” and a discussion on preserving puppetry heritage.
In addition, the festival will mark the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition of the tug-of-war ritual and game with an international workshop and performances featuring delegations from Korea and 10 Vietnamese heritage communities.
