“BÁCH HOA BỘ HÀNH” (HUNDRED FLOWERS WALK) FESTIVAL – SUMMER 2025

“Việt Phong Hội Tụ” – Living cultural heritage awakens in the heart of the city

Under the theme “Việt phong hội tụ” (The Convergence of Vietnamese Style), the event brought together more than 1,000 parade participants from all three regions of Vietnam – North, Central and South – who gathered in the ancient capital of Huế to celebrate the beauty of the áo dài and traditional Vietnamese costumes.

Along a walking route of nearly 3km, starting from Nghênh Lương Đình, following the bank of the Perfume River, crossing Trường Tiền Bridge, along Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Street, over the Lim wooden bridge, and ending at Quốc Học Huế Square, the parade delivered a distinctive, vibrant visual spectacle rich in culture. Locals and visitors lining the streets had the chance to admire hundreds of classic and modernised Vietnamese costumes, vividly recreating the historical depth and aesthetic spirit of traditional dress, as well as its evolution in contemporary life.

Special highlights of Bách Hoa Bộ Hành

One of the event's most striking highlights was the “Bách Hoa Bộ Hành” Royal Procession (Ngự giá) contingent, recreated in Huế for the first time. The Nguyễn Dynasty royal procession – with the queen, mandarins, imperial guards, noble ladies and royal concubines… – was meticulously reconstructed based on historical records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing the atmosphere of the old royal court back to life in a way that was authentic and solemn, yet approachable.

The event not only made a strong impression on the public but also created a vibrant living-heritage performance space in the heart of Huế – where past and present, history and everyday life come together.

A journey honouring Vietnamese traditional dress

Launched in 2022, “Bách Hoa Bộ Hành” (Hundred Flowers Procession) is a community initiative that promotes and celebrates the cultural value of traditional Vietnamese costume through walking parades. Over 6 seasons, the programme has become a distinctive cultural symbol, spreading a love of Vietnamese traditional dress to audiences across the country.

Held in Central Vietnam for the first time, the event not only helped bring Vietnamese traditional dress home to the ancient capital – a place closely tied to many forms of royal court attire – but also embodied the spirit of cultural connection between the three regions, marking 65 years of the Hà Nội – Huế – Sài Gòn twinning (1960–2025). It also celebrated Huế becoming a centrally governed city and hosting National Tourism Year 2025.

“Bách Hoa Bộ Hành” 2025 in Huế once again affirmed the enduring value of intangible cultural heritage, in which traditional dress is not merely a symbol of the past but a living part of modern life. With each season, the programme continues to serve as a cultural bridge, while inspiring the community to come together to preserve, protect and promote the unique beauty of Vietnamese national culture.