A panoramic view of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Photo: Le Viet Khanh/ VOV)

The Festival will have four main events to cherish cultural heritages of Ninh Binh province and other localities. After the opening ceremony, there will be a cultural heritage program of the North and Central region and international exchange at the Thung Nham eco-tourism complex on Friday, and a closing ceremony to welcome the New Year on December 31 at the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports and Deputy Head of the Organizing Board, said, "All work such as reception and logistics to serve domestic and foreign tourists has been completed. Festive events and art programs have been finalized.”

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, speaks at the press conference introducing the 2nd Trang An-Ninh Binh Festival. (Photo: VOV)

The opening ceremony is an elaborate play performed at a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. The play, combining the natural scenery of rivers and mountains with audio, lighting, and mapping projection technology, contemporary dance, a performance on water, and dancing while drawing calligraphy, describes the history and culture of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu-Ninh Binh.

Performer Tran Thanh Tung said, “This is the first time I have performed on a water stage. There are some minor difficulties, but we’ll do our best to make the performance a success.”

The 2^nd Ninh Binh-Trang An Festival will run until December 31, New Year’s Eve. Ninh Binh province has asked tourism sites and accommodations to be prepared to welcome a large number of visitors during the New Year holiday.