Vietnam promotes cultural heritage at global festivals and UNESCO events

Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of its partnership with UNESCO by co‑hosting the “Dao Xue” cultural programme at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 17 June 2026, underscoring the country's historic educational legacy.

Domestically, the sixth Zhuang cultural festival took place in Quang Binh province (26‑28 June), three Vietnamese attractions – Hoi An, the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi tunnels – were named among Asia’s best tourist sites, and a twelfth biosphere reserve was added to the UNESCO network, highlighting heritage and environmental stewardship.

Internationally, Vietnam showcased its arts at the “Bonjour Vietnam” festival in Paris, at Bulgaria’s Asian Festival, and through exhibitions on the Ho ang Sa/Truong Sa islands in Da Nang, a Hue Festival showcase, and a pottery village in Da Nang designed as a cultural space. Cultural exchange programmes were staged in Japan and South Korea, a Vietnam Studies Centre opened in Thailand, and UNESCO’s Assistant Director‑General linked Van Mieu values to UNESCO’s mission.

Additional initiatives included AI‑driven digital art projects, the EFEO photo archive’s bid for UNESCO Memory of the World status, and a performance by a Finnish conductor and a Vietnamese violist at the Saigon Opera House, reflecting a broad diplomatic push for Vietnamese culture.