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Mar 23, 2019 / 19:26

First-ever Singapore Festival opens in Hanoi

The festival aims to introduce to Hanoians the image of the neighboring nation and the Singaporeans.

The first Singapore Festival 2019 officially opened at Ly Thai To statue and around the Hoan Kiem walking street on March 23, helping enhance the people-to-peole diplomacy between the two countries.
 
Singapore Festival opens in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Phuong
Singapore Festival opens in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Phuong
The event was organized by the Singapore Tourism Board in coordination with the Singaporean embassy in Vietnam and the Hanoi People’s Committee. The festival, which is taking place from March 23 to 24, aims to introduce to Hanoians the image of the neighboring nation and the Singaporeans.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on March 23, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung affirmed that Singapore is not only known as a country with the most developed trade in Asia, but also a green, clean and beautiful country with a diverse culture and one of the cleanest and safest living environments in the world. In particular, Singapore is gradually becoming the first smart nation model in the world.

In 2018, Singapore ranked 12th in terms of visitors to Hanoi, reaching over 80,000 holidaymakers and accounting for 28% of the total number of Singapore visitors to Vietnam, said Chung.
 
There are many kinds of activities to be held during the festival. Photo: Ha Phuong
There are many kinds of activities to be held during the festival. Photo: Ha Phuong
In 2018, Vietnam was among the top 10 countries for the first time with the highest number of visitors to Singapore. This reflects the special attraction of Singapore to the people of Vietnam in general and Hanoians in particular, Chung added.
According to Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, in recent years, the cooperative relationship Vietnam – Singapore in general and Hanoi – Singapore in particular has seen a large improvement. The cooperation focuses on a variety of areas such as trade, investment, tourism, environment and smart city.
Singapore is now the second largest foreign investor in Hanoi with registered capital of over US$6 billion in 349 projects. In recent years, Hanoi has become a friendly destination for foreign visitors, including Singaporeans.
Chung emphasized that the Singapore Festival promises to create exciting experiences of Singapore’s culture and tradition through a wide range of activities such as fashion shows, art installations and music, and an opportunity to enjoy the unique Michelin-starred street food of Singapore.
Though the Singapore Festival days are short, they will leave an impression of beautiful island state rich in culture and values to Vietnamese people in general, Hanoians in particular, as well as international friends, said the Hanoi mayor.
Hanoi will continue to work closely with the Singaporean embassy and the Singapore Tourism Board to organize the Singapore Festival in the years to come with a view to making it an annual spotlight, a Singapore destination within Hanoi and a symbol of the effective cooperation between both sides.
On her side, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong Siow Ping said that the festival is an excellent opportunity to expand the cultural exchanges between the two countries, foster mutual understanding and deepen the ties between Singapore and Vietnam.
“Through this festival, we hope to bring Singapore closer to Hanoi and give our Vietnamese friends here a better idea of what Singapore has to offer to visitors to our country,” said the ambassador.
According to Chief Executive of Singapore Tourism Board Keith Tan, this is the first time the Singapore Festival is organized in Hanoi and the festival is one of the key marketing activations under Singapore Passion Made Possible global campaign.
“Our hope is that over the course of this two-day festival, visitors will get a taste of that passion we are so proud of – whether through art, music, food or even interacting with some of our Singapore artists, food vendors and attraction partners,” Keith Tan added.
During the two-day festival, Hanoians and foreign visitors have a chance to enjoy many kinds of activities, including art installations, cultural performances and film, local favourites from Michelin-rated restaurants to hawker stalls, iconic key attractions, events and cultural precincts, pop up showcase of selected home-grown brands, etc.
The event was organized by the Singapore Tourism Board in coordination with the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam and the Hanoi People’s Committee. Photo: Ha Phuong
The event was organized by the Singapore Tourism Board in coordination with the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam and the Hanoi People’s Committee. Photo: Ha Phuong
The festival aims to introduce to Hanoians the image of the neighboring nation and the Singaporeans. Photo: Ha Phuong
The festival aims to introduce to Hanoians the image of the neighboring nation and the Singaporeans. Photo: Ha Phuong
During two-day festival, visitors will get a taste of that passion Singaporeans are so proud of – whether through art, music, food. Photo: Ha Phuong
During the two-day festival, visitors will get a taste of that passion Singaporeans are so proud of – whether through art, music, food. Photo: Ha Phuong
Singapore Airlines to introduce many promotion in the festival. Photo: Ha Phuong
Singapore Airlines to introduce many promotion in the festival. Photo: Ha Phuong
Hanoians enjoy many kinds of activities. Photo: Ha Phuong
Hanoians enjoy many kinds of activities. Photo: Ha Phuong