The opening ceremony of a display of traditional craft products (Photo: VNA)

 A show of Ao Dai or traditional long dress was also held at the opening ceremony. The festival draws 350 artisans from 60 traditional craft villages around Vietnam and 70 foreign artisans from various countries. In his address, Nguyen Van Thanh, Chairman of the Hue Municipal People’s Committee said the festival aims to honour the quintessence of traditional crafts, improve the efficiency of traditional craft production and business, enhance cooperation across spheres, spur socio-economic growth, and combine handicrafts with tourism development. Mr. Thanh said: “Hue imperial city is recognized as a world cultural heritage and festival city of Vietnam. It has long historical and cultural tradition. The city is determined to make every effort to deserve to sentiments of people inside and outside Vietnam.”

During the course of the festival, various programmes will be held such as exhibitions and demonstrations of traditional products of domestic and foreign traditional crafts; the rite to commemorate the patrons of all crafts; the procession honoring artisans and craft villages; along with many side activities, including a balloon festival, an Ao dai event and a special performance by famous Korean artists.