The festival includes the introduction of OCOP products and the culture of northern mountain provinces, a display of lotus products, and a workshop on the development of Vietnamese lotus flowers. The highlight is the opening ceremony with an art performance in the pedestrian corner on Trinh Cong Son Street. This performance takes place on a floating stage, featuring 1,200 professional and amateur actors, and uses unique underwater light mapping technology to celebrate the vitality of the lotus plant, conveying a message about the quintessence and culture of Hanoi people.
The festival also features community-based events, such as a record performance of 1,000 people wearing traditional long dresses with lotus motifs and a cycling event around West Lake involving 7,000 participants. These activities allow residents and tourists to engage in the effort to promote the local culture. Visitors are also introduced to unique artistic products made from lotus flowers.
Ms. Bui Lan Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Tay Ho District People's Committee, said: "The organizers hope that this event will promote the beauty, cultural values, and tourism of Hanoi. We aim to highlight the unique and attractive features of West Lake lotus, particularly the white lotuses. Additionally, we will introduce the traditional craft of scenting lotus tea to tourists and people nationwide."
The first Hanoi Lotus Festival is held during the main lotus season, the busiest time for traditional lotus tea-making households in Quang An village, Tay Ho district. Ms. Ngo Thi Lanh, a resident of Quang An ward, said:
"This year's lotus festival is very big. We’re very excited to introduce our profession of making lotus tea."
Tay Ho district, with more than 70 relic sites and lotus growing areas in the summer, has great potential for cultural tourism. The Hanoi Lotus Festival is expected to become a unique tourism product and a summer meeting point for tourists in the future.