The festival, the first of its kind in Hoi An, a world cultural heritage, draws the participation of more than 300 local students and businesses, said the municipal People’s Committee deputy chairman, Nguyen Van Dung.

It will feature specific characteristics of people in the Northern, Central and the Southern Vietnam as well as cultures of Thailand, China, Japan, Australia and the Netherlands, he said.

“The festival’s message is that Vietnam wants be friend all other countries” Dung added.

During the event, a traditional art performance, a Merry Christmas ceremony, a cultural fair of ethnic groups and an exchange programme with foreigners will also be held to attract visitors.

Since early this year, the city has welcomed nearly 450,000 tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent. Of the number, 320,000 were foreigners, up 7 percent over the same period last year.

Hoi An city was recognised as a world cultural heritage in 1999 by UNESCO.