Vietnam Gears Up for Autumn with Cultural and Commercial Events

Across Vietnam, cultural and commercial events are gaining momentum with the arrival of autumn. Through the end of September, numerous festivals and exchange programs are kicking off nationwide, aiming to leverage cultural heritage, foster creativity, and promote cultural tourism. This marks the official start of the autumn-winter festival season. For instance, on September 11, the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Japan Cultural and Commercial Exchange Program 2026 took place at Luu Huu Phuoc Park in Ninh Kieu Ward, Can Tho City. This program, held biennially since 2015, is in its seventh iteration. This year's event features over 100 booths showcasing Japanese products and services across various sectors, including agricultural products, food, cosmetics, industrial goods, machinery and equipment, healthcare, tourism, and education. A notable highlight was the participation of over 1,000 individuals in a walking parade wearing traditional Japanese attire, adding a new dimension of attraction to the program. In the capital, Hanoi, September 11 also saw the opening ceremonies of two major artistic programs. The first is the "Old Quarter Mid-Autumn Festival 2026" at the Dong Xuan Market area (Hoan Kiem Ward), featuring an artistic program titled "Calling the Moon, Memories of the Moonlit Night, and Moonlit Old Quarter." This series of artistic and experiential events to welcome autumn will run from September 11 to 25 in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake. The second is the opening of the "Thang Long - Hanoi Festival II 2026" at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, themed "Heritage Flow." Organized by the Hanoi City People's Committee, this festival aims for "Civilization - Identity - Creativity - Integration - Connection" and brings together over 3,000 artists, performers, more than 100 artisans, and heritage practitioners from various districts of Hanoi. Additionally, more than 20 special artistic and tourism activities are scheduled to take place in prominent cultural and heritage spaces across the capital until September 20.