Closing an impressive National Tourism Year

Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; leaders of Hue City and delegates attending the event

Attending the closing ceremony on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was Deputy Minister Ho An Phong. Representing Hue City were Central Party member and Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Dinh Trung; Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan; and Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the city Nguyen Chi Tai. Also present were representatives of departments under the MoCST; members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee; former leaders of Hue City from different periods; international guests; and leaders of neighboring provinces and cities.

Although the program officially began after 8:00 p.m., from as early as 5:00 p.m. on December 20, the organizing committee opened the check-in gates to welcome audiences into the event area. The weather was pleasant, favorable for crowds to gather at Ngo Mon Square - the venue of the event. From 7:00 p.m., the audience area gradually filled with thousands of people. An atmosphere of excitement spread, as everyone shared the anticipation of closing a “booming” tourism year of the ancient imperial capital.

The closing ceremony of the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 was organized in the format of a “National Tourism Concert,” modeled after modern music concerts – a form of entertainment currently popular among young people. According to the organizers, choosing this format helped create a sense of closeness, friendliness, connection, and increased interaction, while also reflecting innovation and creativity in line with embracing a “New Opportunity.” Introductory segments and speeches were shortened to create a more approachable and visitor-friendly experience.

Artists such as My Tam, Pham Anh Khoa, Xuan Dinh K.Y, Ngoc Khue, Bach Tra, DJ Huy Ngo, and Shumo A delivered a performance night that harmoniously blended tradition and modernity, creatively staged and rich in emotion.

One of the most important highlights of the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 was the transformation of cultural and heritage values into resources and driving forces for tourism development. Hue’s world-class heritage – from Royal Court Music (Nha nhac), the complex of historical monuments, traditional craft villages, to royal cuisine – was connected and refreshed to become high value-added tourism products, promoted intensively in key tourism markets of Vietnam. This approach aligns with the Government’s and the Prime Minister’s direction on developing cultural tourism and exploiting heritage in a smart and sustainable manner.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan speaking at the closing ceremony

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan stated that the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025, with the theme “Ancient Imperial Capital – New Opportunity”, concluded with many remarkable highlights. More than 170 cultural and tourism events were held, and over 6 million domestic and international visitors came to Hue. Notably, the image of the former imperial capital spread strongly across domestic and international media platforms. This is the clearest evidence of the renewed vitality of Hue’s tourism, while also affirming its role as a distinctive cultural and tourism center of Vietnam.

He emphasized that the success of the National Tourism Year stemmed not only from the efforts of local authorities, but also from the close connection and wholehearted support of the business community, artists, artisans, and international friends. Above all, it was the hospitality, civility, and sense of responsibility of Hue’s people – the key factor that created a positive impression and painstakingly nurtured the “Hue brand” in the hearts of visitors near and far.

Building on the achieved results, Hue will continue to implement its strategy to develop into a smart, green, and sustainable heritage city, with key focuses on: improving the quality of tourism products associated with heritage values and Hue’s cultural identity; accelerating digital transformation and international tourism promotion; strengthening public–private partnerships in tourism infrastructure and services; and building a modern, dynamic Hue citizenry that still retains cultural depth, elegance, and gentleness. This is the journey for Hue to gradually rise, not only as a destination of memories, but also as a city of the future, integrated and developed on a regional and international scale.

The closing program of the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 concluded not only by leaving a strong impression through a special artistic night, but also by providing residents and visitors with deeper insights into Hue’s tourism. This opens up new expectations for the “smokeless industry” of the imperial ancient capital. This is a story of a heritage city that knows how to renew itself, connect culture with tourism, and create a National Tourism Year full of emotions and success.

* Hue Today Online invites readers to revisit memorable moments from the closing ceremony of the National Tourism Year – Hue 2025: