Kite flying festival to take place in Hue, Halong

The second annual kite flying festival will take place in the imperial city of Hue from June 13-19 as part of the activities to herald the 2004 Hue Festival. The festival, themed "Vietnamese Flying Wings", will draw the participation of kite clubs from Hue city, southern Ninh Thuan province, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An town and Do Son town, as well as those from France, Malaysia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and Cambodia. The festival's main activities will take place at Ngo Mon Gate Square and Thuan An beach, including kite flying performances, the display of traditional kites and the art of making kites. Kites made in Hue were present at international kite flying festivals in Dieppe in France, Johor in Malaysia, and Jakarta in Indonesia and at local festivals as well. The first kite flying festival was held in Hue city last September. The Festival Hue 2004 will kick off on June 12 and last until June 20 with a host of festive activities, including an international sculpture camp, theatrical arts, folk games, trade fairs, handicrafts expo, and performances of communal rituals from various regions. Of the nine festive days' performances by Vietnamese and foreign artists, the audience will be given a chance to enjoy diverse cultural display. Famous singers of the Hue folk music, Ca Tru (musical verses) and Cai Luong (renovated theatrical music) will be performed. Hue's royal music, Nha Nhac, will be performed inside the citadel at night to make the music more alluring. Hue 2004, themed "Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development", will be the venue for the first national puppetry competition which will see the participation of 15 troupes across the country. It will also hold, for the first time since the last court of the Nguyen Dynasty, ritual ceremonies, and the Nam Giao rites. (VNA)