Gala "Vietnam Night": Impressive and rich in cultural identity.

The "Vietnam Night" Gala is one of the most anticipated events at ITE HCMC 2023, as it not only connects delegates from around the world to Ho Chi Minh City but also provides an opportunity to showcase Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and traditional art through unique perspectives.

Attending the event, the "Vietnam Night" Gala was honored to welcome Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, former Vice President of Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Phan Van Mai, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; along with leaders from international tourism ministries; leaders from international cities and provinces/cities of Vietnam; and representatives from tourism destinations and businesses from 42 countries and territories. The "Vietnam Night" Gala also featured five beauty queens from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam's representative, Miss Intercontinental 2022, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc - the media ambassador for the ITE HCMC 2023 Fair.

In his opening remarks at the Gala Night, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized: “The history of the Vietnamese nation has been written by countless generations of hardworking, creative, persistent, and determined people who conquered nature, reclaimed land, built villages and settlements, and protected the borders. Following the course of history, the shape of Vietnam today appears like a watercolor painting with towering mountains, endless valleys, vast fields alongside rivers laden with alluvial soil, landscapes chosen as world natural wonders, and over 3,200km of coastline and islands with many beaches that captivate tourists.”

Vietnamese history is marked by the remarkable intermingling and interaction of many different cultures from North to South, from the highlands to the plains, from the mainland to the rivers and islands, from ancient to modern times, a blend of East and West. This is the origin of the diversity and harmony of culture, customs, and lifestyles of communities throughout the S-shaped land of Vietnam.

Vietnam's history, spanning thousands of years, has been written by the unity, solidarity, love, and mutual support of its 54 ethnic groups, both in times of peace and in times of storm. In labor, optimistic and warm smiles have forged the genuine, tolerant, friendly, and kind-hearted qualities of the Vietnamese people. In struggle, silent tears have shaped the values ​​of a steadfast, indomitable people who cherish peace, look towards the future, cooperate, and be friends with all nations and peoples around the world. This is also the source of its openness, generosity, and willingness to welcome all friends and visitors from afar as if they were returning family.

Proud of its history, Ho Chi Minh City presents an art program themed "Shape of Vietnam" to help you experience the vibrant colors of Vietnam and its people. This program is also a welcome and an invitation to visit Vietnam to admire its majestic and beautiful nature, to immerse yourself in its friendliness and warmth, to explore and experience its diverse and rich culture, to "live fully in Vietnam"; to love more the days we live, the people we meet; and to find yourself in the Vietnamese home.

Tonight's program is also a greeting to our esteemed guests in Ho Chi Minh City – a city that cherishes traditional values ​​and always looks towards the future, a vibrant, friendly, and inspiring destination; a city that harmoniously blends dynamic, modern life with a space filled with long-standing architectural and cultural values; a city with modern buildings along the river interspersed with canals and waterways; blessed by nature with the Can Gio Mangrove and Sea World Biosphere Reserve, considered the "green lung" of the city; a city where you can find any delicacy from around the world alongside delicious dishes from all over Vietnam.

With the theme "Shape of Vietnam," the Gala Night presented vibrant performances showcasing the beauty and cultural identity of Vietnam to friends both domestically and internationally. The opening act was a musical performance featuring a unique combination of instruments titled "Echoes of the Homeland." Traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as the stone xylophone, T'rung, Đinh Pá, bầu (a type of gourd), and flute blended together to create a rich and resonant symphony. Following this, the audience was captivated by elaborately staged performances brimming with national pride, including the dances "Eastern Dawn" and "Vietnamese Smile" choreographed by Dương Nam Long, the song "A Round Trip Around Vietnam" performed by a group of singers, the song "Saigon Here We Come" by the Ayor Group, and the performance "A Thousand Vietnamese Dreams" by singer Bích Ngọc.

Through its artistic performances, the "Vietnam Night" Gala recreated a modern, youthful Vietnam that is still rich in cultural identity, preserving its long-standing traditional values. Inspired by the idea of ​​the sun shining across the S-shaped land of Vietnam, and the sun as a beautiful natural paint illuminating the landscape, the organizers aimed to convey the warmth of the Vietnamese people, spreading cultural beauty like the sun, warming every corner of the country, and connecting nations and peoples for sustainable development.

With that in mind, the people of Ho Chi Minh City wish to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests who have come to Vietnam, to Ho Chi Minh City, and to ITE - HCMC 2023. We invite you to come and immerse yourself in the Sun Inspiration Vibes with Shape of Sight, Shape of Smile, Shape of Sun! Are you ready to pick up a brush and paint on the vibrant sunlit canvas of the tropical land of Vietnam?

Over 16 editions, ITE - HCMC has continuously innovated and improved the professionalism of its organization. To introduce and promote new tourism products of Ho Chi Minh City, before and after the fair, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has coordinated with localities (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Ninh Thuan, Phu Quoc) to organize destination survey programs for ministers, mayors, city officials, buyers, and international press to experience the attractions.

Taking place over three days, from September 7-9, 2023, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, ITE - HCMC 2023 will offer a series of professional activities including major forums and seminars such as: the High-Level Tourism Forum “Digital Transformation to Promote Tourism Development” with the participation of Government leaders, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, leaders of People's Committees, representatives of Tourism Departments of provinces and cities nationwide, leaders of the International Cooperation Department, and leaders of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration and its affiliated departments…; the Seminar on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry - Vietnam's Resort Industry - Opportunities & Challenges; the 4th ASEAN Regional Public Relations and Media Forum; and a series of thematic events on destination communication.

In addition, ITE - HCMC 2023 also organized many outstanding tourism promotion activities such as: Introducing Chilean Tourism - “Chile, Where the impossible is possible”, implemented by the ProChile Trade Office, Embassy of Chile in Vietnam; the Unique Korean Experience program organized by the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam; Introducing Japanese Tourism implemented by the Japan Tourism Promotion Agency; the Quang Ninh Tourism Introduction program and the Kien Giang Tourism Networking Conference.

The event was implemented under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, and jointly carried out by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, CIS Vietnam, and Le Bros.