The 2014 Hue Festival, which opens tonight, Apr 12, and runs until Apr 20, promises to give flocking tourists a host of compelling art, cultural and fashion performances from Vietnam and 36 other countries.

From yesterday, the sparkling Hue streets have been packed with domestic tourists and foreigners, as well as groups of artists and artisans from across Vietnam and other countries.

The 2014 Hue Festival, the 8th so far, attracts some 595 artists from 43 international art troupes from the five continents, along with 811 local artists.

The feast offers some 100 performances, which are strongly indicative of the countries’ and regions’ distinctive culture.

The opening, which will take place at Ngo Mon Square 8pm tonight, will be aired live on VTV1 and VTV4.

Electro music feast

One of the new features at this year’s Hue Festival is the international electro music fest, set to run at the An Dinh Palace stage from tomorrow.

The fest will feature four celebrated electro music bands, the UK’s “Micachu”, France’s “Joakim Bouaziz”, German’s “Mijk van Dijk”, and Vietnam’s “Tri Minh”.

The captivating performances by several world-leading DJs from Vietnam and several European countries are also expected to hold audiences spellbound.

The feast will also boast performances by Australia’s “Deep Blue”, Denmark’s Stoffer and Maskinen, Israel’s “Tararam” and Congo’s “Gasandji”, as well as shows which fuse Oriental and Western music like “Phuong Dong quyen ru” (The enchanting Orient) and “Vu cam” (Dances and musical instruments).

The feast will close with a rock live show on Apr 19 evening.

Exchange of rich cultural hues

The 2014 Hue Festival, which has been chosen as “The East Asian – Latin American Cultural Exchange Forum” by Vietnam’s Ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Foreign Affairs, will also highlight performances considered “cultural ambassadors” by many foreign troupes.

They include performances by Uruguay’s “Umbral Duo de Guitarras”, who seamlessly blends folk and chamber music; Argentinean artist Osvaldo Montes, who will showcase popular pieces along with excerpts from classic movies, and Brazil’s “Sururu Na Roda” band with their signature samba and choro.

Mongolia’s “Arga Bileg” band will fuse folk music typical of the prairie culture with Western jazz, while Mali singer/composer Musbaba is expected to bewitch the audiences with his combination with a Vietnamese “dan tranh” (Vietnamese 16-chord zither) artist.

The fashion spotlight

“Dem Phuong Dong” (Oriental night) has been one of the past Hue Festivals’ most-enjoyed shows.

This year’s show, to take place on Apr 13, 15, 16 and 18, will feature performances of traditional costumes from Japan, Korea, China, India, Mongolia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Unlike in previous years when Japan sent only “yukata” (a kind of summertime, simpler “kimono”), this time the country sends over several gorgeous “kimono”, each of which costs up to some ten US dollars and takes no less than 90 minutes to don.

Tourists will also have chances to don the simpler “kimonos” with the assistance of Japanese specialists.

This is the first time Malaysia and Myanmar have joined the Hue Festival.

Malaysia will showcase their 15 “baju kurum” (Malaysian women’s traditional attire), while Myanmar models will also don their traditional “thummy” at the “Oriental night” show.

Other fashion highlights include Mongolia’s “deel”, China’s rare collection of time-honored costumes and Korea’s colorful “hanbok” on their iconic “oganza” cloth.

Thailand has surprised the festival organizers by giving re-creations of weaving and sewing 15 new traditional costumes on a special kind of silk, which is exclusive to Thai queens.

Three renowned Vietnamese designers, Minh Hanh, Cong Khanh and Hai Long – The Huy will also showcase their stunning, elaborated “ao dai” (traditional Vietnamese long gown).

“This year’s festival has made a great stride by attracting a high number of foreign troupes, compared to the low number joining the first Hue Festival in 2000. The participating countries have seen great opportunities in showcasing their art values and cultural identities at the festival,” said Nguyen Van Thanh, vice head of the festival’s organizing board.