At the festival, hundreds of Danish and Vietnamese artists gathered in a cultural programme entitled “Young Artists Enlarge Borders”. A street art performance serving the public took place from 2:30pm to 9pm on the day.

Earlier, Queen Margrethe and her entourage had a full schedule, working with Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, visiting the Bat Trang Ceramics Factory and enjoying performances by Vietnamese children at the Youth Theatre.

They also attended the opening ceremony of a painting exhibition entitled “Emergency Room” at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts, featuring works by more than 20 Danish and Vietnamese painters. The exhibition will last through November 28.

On the evening of November 3, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik hosted a banquet for State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his wife at the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature).

The event was organised on the 220th anniversary of France’s National Day (on July 14), the 10th anniversary of recognizing Hanoi as a peace city, the 55th anniversary of the capital’s liberation and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Present at the festival were members of VFFA and a large numbers of pupils and students from schools and universities around the capital.

Looking towards the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the VFFA’s Hanoi branch is scheduled to pay a visit to France, in September to promote the event with activities such as an ao dai exhibition, the publication of book on Hanoi gastronomy translated into 6 foreign languages.

The World Heritage Concert, the third of its kind, saw performances from leading Gagaku artists accompanied by the Tokyo New City Orchestra, as well as artists from local troupes. Well-known Japanese conductor Togi Hideki was also present at the show.

The concert is one in a series of activities to promote international cultural exchange. It was jointly organised by the World Heritage Concert Committee, the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and the People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province.

On the evening of July 14, the Tokyo New City Orchestra, for the first time, entertained local audiences in HCMC with various special performances.

The symposium also focused on cultural history, performance, customs, costumes, music and artists of Hat Xoan (a kind of folk song of northern Phu Tho Province).

Deputy Director of Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Thi Minh Ly warned that Hat Xoan that is falling into oblivion needs urgent protection.

To finalise Hat Xoan dossier, northern mountainous Phu Tho Province must prove Hat Xoan value and its preservation strategy with the community’s strong support, she added.

Hat Xoan is believed to have been created more than 500 years ago. It is not only popular in 18 communes around the Lo River in Phu Tho Province, but it is also sung in midland and northern regions.

Hat Xoan has some similarities with the lullaby. Like Quan Ho, many of the songs are about love, but it is also a kind of folk music that worships a village genie.

There are many forms of Hat Xoan: dialogue, group singing accompanied by several kinds of dances.

Hat Xoan festivals are often held in spring in village temples. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the artists often sing it at the Hung Temple Festival.