Vietnam's Annual Hue Festival Draws to a Close

A nine-day extravaganza marking the culture and history of Vietnam came to a close on Sunday in the ancient capital of Hue.

Thousands of Vietnamese and foreign tourists crowded the venue of the annual event.

This year's festival was themed "Cultural Heritage during Integration and Development."

[Ngo Hoa, Hue Festival Organizing Committee]:
“Every country and nation has its own cultural characters, so festival 2010 is a place to introduce the cultural characters of Vietnam, of Hue and other regions, to the international communities, friends and overseas Vietnamese. It is also a place to gather and exchange the art and culture of different countries of five continents.”

On Saturday evening, a colorful performance along the banks of the Perfume River at sunset marked the climax of the festival.

The performance was called "Legends of the Perfume River." Dragon boats with performers clad in traditional costumes floated down the river against a three-mile backdrop of historical buildings… depicting the river's history, legends and beauty.

[Le Quy Duong, Art Director, “Legends of Perfume River”]:
"The humans on the Earth can not live without rivers. The river is not only a life source for people but it is also a source of emotion. Perfume River really is a legend as it is not only the source for poetry, music, paintings, religious and ritual spirit. It sticks closely to the life of many ordinary people who earn a living on the river. The Perfume River is a cradle and a life source that helps Hue residents to move forward to their future.”

At Thien Mu pagoda, monks and young girls lit up flowered lanterns with the shape of the letter of "Thien Mu Pagoda" in Chinese characters. Legend says a fairy once appeared and disappeared where the pagoda stands.

There was also a fashion show of traditional costumes from countries such as Japan, China, India, Laos and Mongolia.