Thua Thien - Hue (VNA) – TheGiao ritual (worshipping ritual for Heaven and Earth) was re-enacted at the NamGiao Esplanade in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on April 27, the twelfthday of the third lunar month.

It is one of the main events during the Hue Festival 2018, which is scheduled in ThuaThien-Hue from April 27 to May 2.

 
The Giao ritual was the most important ritualof the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). In the ritual, the King offeredsacrifices to Heaven and Earth to ask for peace, prosperity and favourableweather. It was held until 1945. Built in 1906, NamGiao was the largest esplanade of the country.

Huecity was the imperial capital of Vietnam for over 100 years. It is home to fiveUNESCO-recognised heritages, namely the Hue ancient citadel relic complex – aWorld Cultural Heritage site; Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music)- an intangiblecultural heritage item; Nguyen Dynasty’s wood blocks – a documentary heritageitem; Nguyen Dynasty’s Chau ban (royal administrative documents) – part of theAsia-Pacific Register of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme; and literatureon Hue royal architecture - a documentary heritage.

Themed“Cultural heritage with integration and development - Hue one destination, fiveworld heritages”, the Hue Festival 2018 comprises an array of activities,including a Buddhism cultural programme, Hue Royal Essences art programme,Huong River’s resonance programme, a national festival of “Hat Van” or “ChauVan” (a traditional art form that combines singing and dancing), a music showfeaturing songs of late musician Trinh Cong Son, a scientific festival, aninternational trade fair, a cuisine fair and a poem festival.

Thisyear, the festival is organised in association with numerous cultural eventssuch as 25 years since the Hue ancient citadel relic complex recognised by theUNESCO as a world cultural heritage and 15th anniversary of the Hue royal courtmusic recognised by the UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritageof Humanity.-VNA