They will perform modern and traditional music, dance, and stilt-walking.

France, Belgium, and Germany will send the largest number of troupes, while Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Senegal, and Norway will be featured for the first time at the event.

Also for the first time at the decade-old event, Vietnamese and foreign troupes will perform in districts and villages around Thua-Thien Hue Province.

This year's festival will feature a re-enactment of the heaven-worshipping ritual practised by kings in olden times, an ao dai (traditional long dress) festival, palace evenings, variety shows titled Oriental Evening, re-creation of village markets, Buddhist music performances, and other events.

They will be mainly staged at the Forbidden City, An Dinh Palace, Ngo Mon (Imperial Gate) Square, and the pedestrians-only Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street among others.