Hội An, Szentendre, Hungary to mark tenth anniversary of twinning

Representatives of twin cities — Hội An and Szentendre, Hungary — share a photo at the Japanese Bridge in the ancient town. The two cites will be celebrating the anniversary of the twin cities establishment on July 20. — Photo courtesy of Hội An City’s Information and Sports Centre

HỘI AN — A night performance in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the twinning between the ancient town of Hội An and Szentendre, Hungary, will be staged at An Hội Sculpture Park on the Hoài River on July 20.

The city’s Information and Sports Centre said series of cultural exchanges and meetings will be held between the two cities to boost co-operations in heritage conservation, tourism, arts and culture, businesses alongside schools visits of the two sides in the coming years.

It said the anniversary will be an opportunity for the two cities sharing discussions and plans of hosting more cultural and tourism events in 2024-29.

The two cities will be seeking people-to-people visits, as well as introducing each other in world forums and events.

Hội An, a UNESCO-recognised world heritage, has twinned with seven urban areas including Wernigerode in Germany, Gwangju in Korea and Thanh Hoá City in Việt Nam.

A performance of Hội An City’s art troupe at the signing ceremony of the twin cities of Hội An and Szentendre, Hungary. — Photo courtesy of Hội An City’s Information and Sports Centre

The ancient town is a rendezvous for annual Japan-Hội An Cultural Exchange Day and a Korean Culture Day.

A lantern festival of Hội An was also organised in Wernigerode and Paris, France last year.

Hội An has officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in field of Crafts and Folk Art.

The mid-autumn Full Moon Festival (on the 14th day of the eighth lunar month) of the Hội An ancient town was the latest National Intangible Heritage recognition in 2023, joining series of national intangible heritages recognised such as the annual Nguyên Tiêu Festival of Hội An, Thanh Châu bird’s nest, Thanh Hà Pottery Village, carpentry of Kim Bồng Village and Trà Quế vegetable garden. — VNS