Hanoi to host 60,000-attendee concert for Vietnam culture day

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra has tasked Hanoi with organizing an art program and concert to celebrate Vietnam culture day, expected to draw 60,000 people.

This 24/11 marks the first Vietnam Culture Day. During a meeting on the morning of 12/10 to implement the event, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that Hanoi must organize a special art program and engaging concert, while ensuring absolute safety.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with Hanoi, is developing a comprehensive schedule of events. Planned activities include: Thanh Am Viet Nam 2026, a hybrid digital and live music program; the Hanh Trinh Trai Nghiem Van Hoa Viet 2026 media campaign; and a Vietnam Film Week. The Digital Map of Vietnamese Culture is also slated for launch on 1/11; by 9/10, all 34 provinces and cities had already received accounts and instructions for updating data on the platform.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra speaks at the meeting on the morning of 12/10. Photo: VGP.

A week-long series of events, Culture - National Unity Week, is scheduled from 18 to 24/11. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is tasked with finalizing activity guidelines by 15/10. Additionally, the Ministry, in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, will invite and assign Party and State leaders, along with National Assembly delegates, to participate in local activities. The Ministry will also ensure consistent messaging, slogans, and decorations nationwide.

While acknowledging that preparations in some areas were "not thorough enough, not aligned with objectives," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the strategic importance of linking Vietnam Culture Day with the National Unity Day festival. This unified Culture - National Unity Week, she noted, will create a continuous, widespread series of events that will integrate deeply into people's lives.

For this inaugural year, Ms. Tra expressed her desire for the day to leave a lasting impression and establish its long-term value and vitality. "The goal is for people to anticipate 24/11 each year, actively participate, and truly feel a part of Culture Day," she stated, emphasizing that all activities must be accessible, convenient, and tailored to various community groups.

To maximize impact, programs should extend to communes, wards, villages, and residential groups. This grassroots approach aims to strengthen connections among individuals, families, generations, and diverse ethnic and religious communities, ultimately fostering stronger neighborhood ties and collective community strength.

The Deputy Prime Minister also encouraged cultural venues to open widely, extend operating hours, and offer appropriate fee waivers or reductions. This initiative seeks to provide the public with increased opportunities to access and experience Vietnam's rich cultural heritage.

The establishment of Vietnam Culture Day on 24/11 annually was first approved by the Politburo in January. It was designated as a public holiday, ensuring workers receive a paid day off. This policy was subsequently codified into law by the National Assembly in September.