The “Colors of Five Continents” street festival took place on October 3, 2026, around Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi, attracting more than 1,000 performers, artists, artisans, models, international community members, local residents and visitors.

The event was part of the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi and was held under the theme “Heritage Convergence – Shaping the Future.”

A highlight was a colorful parade featuring Vietnamese ao dai and traditional costumes from 15 countries: Austria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, the Philippines, Spain, Ukraine, Peru, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. 

The parade brought together the distinctive colors and styles of different cultures in the heart of the capital. International groups presented traditional music, folk dances and other cultural performances, while Vietnamese artists and performers showcased lion and dragon dances, traditional arts and ao dai.

The festival offered a chance for people from different countries to meet, share their cultures and strengthen friendship. It also promoted Hanoi as a “City for Peace” and highlighted the role of culture in connecting people and communities.

With its mix of traditional costumes, music, dance and performances, the “Colors of Five Continents” street festival created a lively cultural scene in central Hanoi, bringing heritage and people together for a shared future.

The “Colors of Five Continents” street festival takes place around Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Delegates attend the “Colors of Five Continents” street festival. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Representatives of participating countries attend the festival. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham Tuan Long delivers the opening remarks. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

A lion and dragon dance troupe performs at the opening of the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Hanoi residents and international visitors enjoy the Bong Drum Dance from Trieu Khuc Village. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Artists from the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre perform at the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Circus performances entertain the audience. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Traditional dances from Hanoi are performed at the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Young women from the Vietnam Ao Dai Cultural Club attend the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Participating countries showcase their traditional costumes. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Peruvian dancers perform traditional dances. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

A representative of Sri Lanka attends the festival. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Vietnamese women in elegant ao dai attend the festival. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

The event attracts a large crowd of Hanoi residents. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Vietnamese ao dai featuring maps of Vietnam stand out at the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

The parade passes the event’s main stage. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

The event provides an opportunity for participating groups to learn about and exchange cultures. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

The event brings participating groups together for cultural exchange. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP

Women in ao dai chat with international artists at the event. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang/VNP