World Cultural Festival in Hanoi: Must-See Activities You Can’t Miss

The World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, held for the first time from October 10–12, 2025, at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, celebrates Vietnam’s rich heritage and the dialogue among world cultures.

Curious about the most spectacular activities waiting for you? Read on to discover the highlights of these three festive days in Hanoi!

Written by Linh Yang (Local expert)Updated on 11-10-2025

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World Cultural Festival: A Major Cultural Initiative

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 2025 World Cultural Festival in Hanoi is one of the city’s most significant cultural events, bringing nations together through culture, dialogue, and peace.

Supported by nearly 50 embassies and foreign cultural centers, the festival features 45 cultural spaces, 33 food stalls, 16 art troupes, 12 book booths, and 20 participating countries in cinema. At the heart of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, visitors can enjoy dance, music, art, parades, cuisine, and crafts, turning Hanoi into a vibrant crossroads of global friendship and culture.

Now, stay tuned for our next section to discover the must-see activities, unmissable performances, and unique cultural experiences that will make Hanoi the world’s capital of creativity and sharing in October 2025.

Key Programs & Highlight Events

3D Mapping Show: “Colors of Vietnam, Rhythms of the World”

The 3D Mapping show “Colors of Vietnam, Rhythms of the World” promises an extraordinary visual and emotional experience.

Through immersive visual effects, music, and light displays, it traces the history of Vietnam — from its ancient traditions to its modern openness — while celebrating global cultural diversity.

The audience will be taken on a sensory journey where Vietnamese folk patterns blend harmoniously with contemporary international rhythms, creating an artistic dialogue between past and future, between the local and the global.

Fashion Show “In the Footsteps of Heritage”

The Fashion Show “In the Footsteps of Heritage” (Bước chân Di sản) is set to be one of the festival’s most spectacular moments. Bringing together nearly a hundred traditional outfits from participating countries, this show promises to be the largest international presentation of national costumes ever held in Vietnam.

More than just a fashion show, “In the Footsteps of Heritage” is a tribute to cultural diversity and collective memory. Spectators will embark on a journey through civilizations, admiring the richness of fabrics, the delicacy of embroidery, and the depth of symbols woven into each piece.

The Cultural Avenue

Among the festival’s highlights, “The Cultural Avenue” will take visitors on a sensory journey through nearly 50 countries. This international exhibition will gather pavilions from France, the United States, Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Angola, and many others.

Each space will showcase the soul and creativity of its nation through history, art, language, traditional costumes, and folklore. Visitors can experience culture in a hands-on way by trying on traditional Vietnamese or foreign attire, joining craft demonstrations, or simply chatting with cultural representatives.

The Food Street

A true meeting point of flavors, Phố ẩm thực (The Food Street) promises an explosion of tastes and colors during the Hanoi World Cultural Festival. Alongside typical Vietnamese specialties — from phở and bánh xèo to coconut desserts — visitors can savor dishes from all around the world.

From Persian saffron dishes and Indian classics like Butter Chicken and Galouti Kebab, to African flavors such as Angola’s Peito Alto de Vaca, each stall tells its own culinary story, offering a global feast that connects people through taste and sharing

360 Cinema – A Borderless Film Journey

At the heart of the festival, the 360 Cinema invites audiences to immerse themselves in the world of cinema through an exceptional selection of films from Vietnam, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Documentaries, feature films, and short films come to life with 360-degree projection, allowing viewers to experience the action and emotions as if they were part of the story.

Vietnamese Calligraphy Workshop

During the festival, the Vietnamese Calligraphy space will surely attract many visitors. Inspired by the “xin chữ” tradition (requesting calligraphy) during Lunar New Year, this activity allows participants to receive meaningful characters such as phúc (happiness), lộc (prosperity), or an (peace).

Unlike the rigid strokes of Hán-Nôm calligraphy, modern Latin-based (chữ Quốc Ngữ) calligraphy flows gracefully. Under the masters’ hands, letters become poetic curves, turning modern Vietnamese writing into a true art form.
 

Hang Trong Painting Workshop

The Hang Trong Painting workshop invites visitors to rediscover one of Hanoi’s most treasured artistic heritages. Born in the city’s Old Quarter, these paintings were once displayed in temples and pagodas to express spirituality and preserve folk customs.

Featuring themes ranging from daily life to sacred symbols, Hang Trong paintings reflect Vietnamese faith and aesthetics. Each artwork, combining woodblock printing with hand-coloring using natural pigments, showcases the artisan’s meticulous skill and craftsmanship.

Conclusion

Beyond its main attractions, the Hanoi World Cultural Festival offers countless other experiences: interactive workshops, artistic performances, and immersive exhibitions.

A true crossroads of civilizations, the event aims to be a space where knowledge and traditions converge — where the essence of Vietnam meets the diversity of the world. Don’t miss your rendezvous at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi, on October 11–12, 2025!

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