Global anti-war movement to be recreated at Festival for peace 2026

PSNews - From a land that once endured some of the greatest suffering during the war, Quang Tri today is rising to become a meeting point for connection, reconciliation, and the promotion of a global message of peace.

keyvisual-le-hoi-vi-hoa-binh-2026-version-da-giam-kich-thuoc.jpg

From a former battlefield to a cultural space

On June 25 in Hanoi, the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a press conference to introduce the "Festival for Peace 2026."

The "Festival for Peace" is designed as an event with no closing ceremony, underscoring the profound message that peace knows no end.

This series of national and international cultural, sports and tourism events aims to honor the values of peace, pay tribute to heroic martyrs, and affirm the inner strength and aspirations for growth of Quang Tri’s heroic "land of fire".

At the press conference, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong recalled the message delivered by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during the Peace Bell Ringing Ceremony in September 2025: "Peace is the greatest strength for building a better future."

While the inaugural "Festival for Peace 2024" laid the foundation for a cultural diplomacy initiative inspired by Quang Tri's wartime legacy, this year's edition aims to further solidify the province's identity as "Quang Tri – A Destination for Peace."

Deputy Minister Cuong emphasized that this upgrade also serves to further leverage the role of cultural diplomacy, expand international cooperation, and share the values of peace with friends around the world.

According to Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, the festival will run from April to December under the theme "From Memory to the Future – Quang Tri for Peace." It will feature a wide range of commemorative, cultural, artistic, sports, tourism, investment promotion, trade facilitation, and community activities. Designed to be solemn, contemporary, and deeply humanistic, these events aim to convey messages of peace, friendship, and sustainable development.

A symphony of peace composed for Quang Tri

Also speaking at the press conference, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong affirmed that the ministry will continue to work closely with Quang Tri Province to ensure the success of the festival's activities.

The collaboration will focus on delivering high-quality artistic performances, diverse programming, and effective communication campaigns. The ultimate goal is to gradually build the "Festival for Peace" into a distinctive cultural brand with broad influence both in Vietnam and internationally.

Delegates from left to right: Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival for Peace; MoFA's Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang.

Delegates from left to right: Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival for Peace; MoFA's Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang.

According to the organizing committee, the highlight of this year's festival will be the opening ceremony on the evening of July 4 at the Hien Luong–Ben Hai Special National Relic Site.

Artistic Director Dang Le Minh Tri revealed that the opening program has been conceived as a symphony of peace composed especially for Quang Tri.

Specifically, the ceremony will unfold through three artistic chapters:

  • "The Flow of Memory," recreating the losses, sacrifices, and resilience of a land that was once a dividing line;
  • "The Light of Peace," celebrating reconciliation, healing, and the aspiration for national unity; and
  • "The World in Harmony," conveying a vision of a shared future for humanity based on peace and cooperation.

Most notably, for the first time on a performance stage in Quang Tri, the global anti-war movement will be recreated through music, visual imagery, and live performances, conveying a message of peace that transcends borders, cultures, and differences.​

The Festival for Peace is a concrete step in implementing Vietnam's strategic vision for cultural development and leveraging the country's soft power. It supports the national goal of positioning Vietnam as an attractive destination for major regional and international cultural and artistic events.

The 2026 festival sends a profound message that memory is not merely a reminder of the past, but also the spiritual foundation to nurture peace, foster tolerance, and build a sustainable future.

Therefore, the festival is more than a cultural event; it represents Vietnam's practical contribution and response to the international community's shared efforts to promote dialogue, strengthen mutual understanding, and build a peaceful, stable future for generations to come.

By Kim Khanh

Other News

Interactive sound exhibition breathes new life into cultural heritage

Interactive sound exhibition breathes new life into cultural heritage

One of the exhibition's highlights is the "Our Sound" installation, where visitors become part of the artwork itself. As multiple participants interact simultaneously, sound and light merge into a shared composition, conveying messages of connection, sharing and collective responsibility for building sustainable communities in harmony with nature.

Festival for Peace 2026 opens, featuring wide rage of activities

Festival for Peace 2026 opens, featuring wide rage of activities

Standing on the historic land of Quang Tri, alongside the Ben Hai River, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel and the national martyrs’ cemeteries, people are reminded of the true value of peace and the sacrifices made for national independence, freedom and reunification.

Smart tourism takes hold nationwide

Smart tourism takes hold nationwide

Under the country’s 2026–2030 digital economy and digital society development programme, the sector has been identified as one of the priority ones for accelerating digital transformation to improve governance efficiency, service quality, and visitor experiences.

UAE grants visa-on-arrival for eligible Vietnamese citizens

UAE grants visa-on-arrival for eligible Vietnamese citizens

PSNews - The UAE Embassy in Vietnam also confirmed that Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports, and their eligible accompanying family members, are able to get a visa on arrival from June 25, 2026 as long as they meet the above requirements.

Hanoi festival celebrates cultural heritage of lotus

Hanoi festival celebrates cultural heritage of lotus

The festival is part of Hanoi's strategy to boost its cultural industries by transforming cultural heritage into a driver of socio-economic development while preserving and promoting the city's traditional cultural values.

Vietnam's Hidden Spa-Water Hope wins top jury prize at Architizer A+Awards 2026

Vietnam's Hidden Spa-Water Hope wins top jury prize at Architizer A+Awards 2026

Nestled among coastal sand dunes in Cam Ranh, the project was conceived with a strong commitment to respecting the natural landscape and harnessing water as its central element. Rather than creating a visually dominant structure, the design blends into the terrain, making use of sand layers, native vegetation and open spaces to strengthen the connection between people and nature.

Heritage resources fuel Hue's new growth ambitions

Heritage resources fuel Hue's new growth ambitions

Hue is simultaneously stepping up efforts to attract investment into tourism, services and cultural industries. In the first five months of 2026, the city secured more than 19 trillion VND in newly registered investment capital, with projects planned in coastal tourism, lagoon-based ecotourism, cultural spaces along the Perfume River, convention and exhibition centres, night-time economy projects and cultural innovation hubs.

Phu Tho moves to unlock tourism potential after administrative mergence

Phu Tho moves to unlock tourism potential after administrative mergence

With coordinated efforts in planning, infrastructure development, product diversification, human resources training, digital transformation and destination branding, Phu Tho is well-positioned to transform tourism into a spearhead economic sector and a new engine of sustainable growth in the years ahead.

AI ushers in a new era for digital art

AI ushers in a new era for digital art

As cultural industries and the creative economy gain momentum, AI is proving valuable in improving efficiency, streamlining operations and enabling creators to focus more on artistic content.

Green tourism charts a new course for Vietnam

Green tourism charts a new course for Vietnam

With its rich agricultural ecosystem, where each region boasts unique produce, culinary traditions, and farming practices, Vietnam is well positioned to develop and expand the farm-to-table model. Cities and provinces, such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Hue, Can Tho, Lam Dong, and Vinh Long, are already embracing the model as part of their green tourism strategies.

Wildlife protection drive delivers encouraging conservation gains

Wildlife protection drive delivers encouraging conservation gains

Implemented under Plan 628, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the campaign marks a shift towards a more coordinated and long-term approach to protecting wildlife and natural resources.

Vietnam seeks strong global presence for its children's books

Vietnam seeks strong global presence for its children's books

According to experts, Vietnam needs a systematic and long-term strategy to bring its children’s literature to the world. This includes strong support for authors, illustrators, editors, translators, and copyright specialists, as well as greater participation in international book fairs as part of a cultural industry development strategy.

Lotus Festival lights up Hue's summer

Lotus Festival lights up Hue's summer

Scheduled for June 19-21 at Bong Lai Islet on Tinh Tam Lotus Lake in Phu Xuan ward, one of Hue’s most renowned scenic landmarks and a symbol of royal garden art, the festival draws inspiration from the lotus’s enduring beauty in court culture. The event aims to honour local heritage while offering visitors a distinctive summer tourism experience.

ASEAN city leaders explore Hanoi's heritage sites

ASEAN city leaders explore Hanoi's heritage sites

At the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, delegates visited the Doan Mon Gate and learnt about the formation and development of the ancient capital through different historical periods at display spaces. They also explored the Kinh Thien Palace’s Dragon Steps (large stone steps with dragon carvings), regarded as the political and ceremonial centre of the imperial citadel during successive Vietnamese dynasties.