Hue Imperial Citadel Relic Preservation Center announces programs for National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025
Year-Round Festivities
On January 1st, the Hue Imperial Citadel Relic Preservation Center announced the programs for 2025, a year in which Hue is honored to host the National Tourism Year in conjunction with the Hue Festival 2025. This also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the province’s liberation (March 26, 1975 – March 26, 2025) and celebrates Hue becoming a city directly under central authority.
This presents a golden opportunity to promote the tangible and intangible cultural values, resources, and unique tourism products of Hue in particular, and Vietnam in general.
The event is expected to attract both domestic and international tourists, contributing to a breakthrough for the tourism industry, promoting socio-economic development, and affirming Hue’s position on the global tourism map.
Accordingly, the theme for the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 is “Hue – Ancient Capital, New Opportunities”; the theme for Hue Festival 2025 is “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development.”
Event Timing: The National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025 will feature continuous activities throughout the year, beginning with the Hue Festival 2025 Announcement Program and the reenactment of the Tet Nguyen Dan Court Ritual on January 1, 2025, and concluding with the Countdown – Happy New Year 2026 art program on December 31, 2025.
The “Spring of the Ancient Capital” Spring Festival will last for three months (January – March) with a series of court festivals, traditional festivals, unique Tet cultural spaces, and spring activities imbued with the character of the ancient Hue capital. The highlight of the Spring season is the first Ancient Capital Martial Arts Festival, the Opening Ceremony of the National Tourism Year, and activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Thua Thien Hue and the 95th anniversary of the establishment of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Party Committee.
The “Shining Citadel” Summer Festival will run from April to June, highlighted by the Ao Dai Festival and Community Ao Dai Week.
The “Hue in Autumn” Autumn Festival will take place from July to September, highlighting the Mid-Autumn Festival, including activities such as the Hue International Lantern Festival 2025; the Lion Dance and Dragon Dance Performance Day, the Hue Lion Dance Performance, and the Mid-Autumn Street Lantern Parade.
The “Winter in Hue” Winter Festival (October – December) will feature a number of new activities and festivals to create a more vibrant and warm winter atmosphere in Hue, while also providing entertainment for tourists to enjoy during their stay in the ancient capital, highlighted by the Closing Ceremony of the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 and the International Music Festival; and the Countdown – Welcoming New Year 2026 Arts Program.
Over 170 Events
Activities organized within the framework of the National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025 will focus on four main program groups: “Spring of the Ancient Capital” Spring Festival; “Shining Citadel” Summer Festival; “Hue in Autumn” Autumn Festival; and “Winter in Hue” Winter Festival, with more than 170 national and provincial-level events.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and central agencies will organize 8 national-level activities; Thua Thien Hue province will host 62 activities (including 46 activities within the National Tourism Year program and 16 activities within the framework of Hue Festival 2025); provinces and cities directly under the Central Government will organize 102 activities in response to the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025.
Among these activities, there will be four key highlights: The Opening Ceremony of the “National Tourism Year – Hue 2025” combined with the fireworks display celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Thua Thien Hue province on the evening of March 25, 2025; The International Conference on Cultural Industries – A Platform for Sustainable Tourism Development on March 25, 2025; The Culture – Tourism Festival and the program introducing Vietnamese tourism, cuisine, and craft villages, connecting businesses during the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 in the European market, expected in June 2025; and the Closing Ceremony of the “National Tourism Year – Hue 2025” at the end of December 2025.
In addition, there will be main activities such as promoting the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 at the World Expo EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” from April 25 – May 6, 2025; a series of activities including: domestic and international tourism communication and promotion; an international culinary festival; a cooking competition for skilled chefs, and an international conference on Net Zero Tourism, expected to be implemented in July – August 2025.
Reference: Lao Dong Newspaper
Image: Internet
