VietNam
Recently, a series of continuous cultural and tourism events held across the wards of Hội An, Hội An Đông, and Hội An Tây have come together to paint a vivid picture of community life. These events celebrated and disseminated intangible cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and folk arts, while reaffirming Hội An - Đà Nẵng’s position as a proud member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The 21st Hội An - Japan Cultural Exchange Festival, Đà Nẵng 2025
The 21st edition of the Hội An - Japan Cultural Exchange Festival took place with a wide range of vibrant and innovative activities, attracting large numbers of residents and visitors alike. Throughout the ancient town, diverse highlights unfolded, including traditional Japanese Futon Daiko parades, street art exchanges, reenactments of the historic wedding between Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro, Sakai calligraphy and tea ceremony performances, artistic shows, cosplay exchanges, Japanese doll exhibitions, Việt Nam - Japan bonsai displays, visits to the “Traces of Old Japan” exhibition space, and hands-on experiences such as “Hizen Ceramics - Patterns that Tell Stories.”
Notably, the festival also integrated contemporary creative elements, including craft and design experience spaces for the community and visitors, as well as exchanges between artists and artisans from both countries. Through this, the festival not only honored traditional cultural values but also fostered creativity, innovation, and dialogue between heritage and modern life, promoting an image of Hội An - Đà Nẵng as a dynamic, creative, and culturally rich destination.
Honoring Thanh Hà Pottery - Recognizing Community Values
On December 31, 2025, the People’s Committee of Hội An Tây Ward solemnly hosted the Award Reception Ceremony for the title “Best Community-Based Tourism Destination,” awarded within the framework of the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2025, at Xuân Mỹ Communal House in Nam Diêu Residential Group. This distinction stands as well-deserved recognition of Thanh Hà Pottery Village’s enduring journey in preserving and promoting its traditional craft - an exemplary form of intangible cultural heritage. The ceremony was conducted in a dignified setting, harmoniously combining traditional rituals, folk art performances, and community interaction. Beyond marking a meaningful moment of transition between the old and new year, the event reaffirmed the community’s central role in fostering sustainable, creative tourism rooted in local cultural values.
Welcoming a New Farming Season: The Paddy Field Festival
In the joyful atmosphere of the early days of the new year, the Hội An Đông Paddy Field Festival took place at An Mỹ Vegetable Village, ushering in a new agricultural season filled with hope and promise. The festival vividly reenacted traditional agricultural rituals closely tied to wet-rice culture, while serving as an engaging community space. Through activities such as rice planting, folk art performances, and cultural and culinary exchanges, the festival brought together local generations and visitors alike. In doing so, it vividly illustrated a model of green, sustainable agricultural tourism, where traditional values are preserved, renewed, and meaningfully experienced.
Welcoming the New Year Through Heritage
The welcoming ceremony for the first international visitors to Hội An Ancient Town in 2026 marked an auspicious beginning for the local tourism sector. The group included 29 visitors from the Philippines, organized by Visit Indochina, ranked among the Top 10 international tour operators bringing visitors to Việt Nam in 2025. The program featured lively performances such as the Sacred Dog dance, “Sắc Bùa” folk singing, and demonstrations of traditional crafts, helping to introduce Hội An’s distinctive cultural values to international friends.
Shortly thereafter, the first Legendary Night of 2026, held on the 14th night of the lunar month, recreated Hội An’s nostalgic atmosphere with lantern-lit streets, traditional attire, folk activities, and a slow-paced rhythm reminiscent of the town a century ago. This monthly event has become a signature tourism product and a refined approach to preserving and reimagining traditional cultural values within contemporary urban life.
Spreading Heritage Values Through Creativity
Reflecting on the sequence of events from late 2025 to early 2026, a consistent vision for cultural and tourism development becomes evident. From rural villages and craft communities to the ancient town, all activities emphasized the celebration of tangible and intangible heritage, highlighted the central role of the community, and seamlessly connected preservation with creativity.
These events not only brought a memorable close to 2025 but also offered a compelling welcome to 2026, opening new expectations for Hội An - Đà Nẵng’s journey toward becoming a globally recognized creative city. It is a place where traditional values are safeguarded and revitalized through contemporary creativity, where cultural identity becomes an intrinsic driver of innovation, and where a solid foundation is built for sustainable development and deeper international integration.
