(VOVworld) - The Hue Festival 2016 officially opened on Friday with a range of art performances  at the Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) square in the ancient imperial citadel complex in Hue City , Thua Thien – Hue province. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the festival as an annual major cultural event which has attracted a large number of domestic and foreign visitors. Festive activities have successfully promoted Vietnam’s image to international friends and strengthened cultural exchanges between Vietnam and other countries.

The opening ceremony of Hue Festival 2016 (Photo: VNA)

Themed “Cultural heritage with integration and development,” the 5-day festival features art programs identical for Vietnam’s different regions, long dress show, street parade, cuisine demo, kite flying, sports contests, a traditional festival of Phuoc Tich ancient village, and a farm produce market of Huong Thuy town.