The programme officially launched the National Tourism Year 2012, which is being hosted by the central province and highlights the northern central coastal region.

The programme featured traditional rituals, music and dancing as well as a lion dance, puppetry carnival, and martial arts performances.

Twenty different events, including 11 national and nine provincial festivals, are scheduled during Tourism Year 2012 including the Central Region Gastronomy Festival in April, the Vietnamese Ethnic Musical Instrument Festival and the Hue Lantern Festival in May, and the National Professional Drama Festival in July.

The theme of this National Tourism Year, ‘Heritage Tourism’ will be highlighted at the annual Hue Festival from April 7-15 a major national cultural and tourism event that promotes Vietnam and its people to the world.

The provincial authorities have focused on developing competitive products based on the cultural heritage of the Nguyen dynasty and the famous local cuisine such as tours to pagodas, garden houses and traditional craft villages as well as ethnic minority communities in A Luoi district.

National Tourism Year 2012 aims to boost national tourism and promote Thua Thien Hue as an attractive, safe and friendly destination welcoming visitors from home and around the world.