“Even with the hot weather, preparations for sound, light and stage systems are finished for the opening,” said Nguyen Duy Hien, Director of the Hue Festival Center. He added that two-to-four-star hotels and resorts were filling up and that bookings were expected to increase 80% during the festival.

Local authorities have assured reasonable prices at hotels, resorts, restaurants and tourist areas and a safe environment for tourists. The organizers have also asked 300 volunteers from universities to serve and guide visitors.

Apart from main areas such as Dai Noi Hue (Hue Imperial Inner City), Tinh Tam Lake, An Dinh Forbidden Palace, Ngo Mon Square and the Huong River’s surrounding areas, this year’s festival will be expanded to remote neighboring districts such as A Luoi, Nam Dong, Phu Loc, Huong Thuy, Phu Vang, Phong Dien and Quang Dien. Auxiliary activities will take place in outskirt areas such as Nguyen Van Troi, Thuong Bac and 3/2 parks, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Thuan An and Lang Co tourist areas, Thanh Toan Bridge, Phuoc Tich Ancient Village, Nguyen Hue-Quang Trung Mausoleum and Huyen Tran Cultural Center. Expansion to remote areas aims to give local farmers a chance to join the festival, said Ngo Hoa from the organizers.

In addition to performances by Vietnamese artists from around the country, the festival will feature performances with cultural nuances of countries and territories from around the world such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Denmark, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and the U.S.

The festival will open with four programs, Itinerary to Reclaim the Country’s Land, Water’s Breath, Oriental Night and Navy Maneuver under the Dynasty of Lord Nguyen. Other highlighted traditional programs include an Ao Dai Fashion Show on June 8, the Nam Giao Festival on June 9, Royal Palace Night on June 8 and 11 and Huong River Legend on June 6 and 12.

The festival concludes on June 13.