A festival will be held to celebrate Northern Central Heritage Cultural Tourism Week at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts in Hanoi on November 21-23.

Exhibitions on heritage of the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, as well as the city of Hanoi, will highlight the festival.

Visitors will have opportunities to view photos of the Hue citadel and cultural events in Hue in the early 20th century, as well as enjoy demonstrations of calligraphy.

Nghe An tourism will be highlighted in an exhibition of three parts: Nghe An – Dat Nuoc – Con Nguoi (Nghe An: The Land, The People); Lang Sen – Que Huong Chu Tich Ho Chi Minh (Sen Village: Hometown of President Ho Chi Minh); and Nghe An – Tiem Nang Phat Trien Du Lich (Nghe An: Potential for Developing Tourism).

Ha Tinh will present a book of calligraphy recreating the epic Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) by poet Nguyen Du, as well as present performances of ca tru (ceremonial singing). Photography books and DVDs on the province's heritage will also be available for sale.

Quang Tri will present photos of historic sites such as the citadel of Quang Tri, Vinh Moc guerrilla warfare tunnels and the Hien Luong Bridge. Visitors will also learn more about traditional festivals and trade villages in the province.

The festival will also introduce the beauty of Ha Long Bay and six other new wonders of the world, as well as offer gastronomic specialities from the northern central region.

The festival's closing ceremony will be broadcast live at 8pm on VTV2 on November 23.

As the northern central provinces aim to boost tourism and celebrate the seventh Vietnam Heritage Day on November 23, the Hanoi Old Quarter is to host additional events on Nov. 18 to enhance public awareness of the traditional culture and heritage of the Old Quarter. Vietnamese tea culture will be introduced at the centre for Old Quarter Information at 28 Hang Buom street./.