The pressure for Vietnam to attract tourists and investors in a rapidly integrating marketplace has never been greater, said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh in a recent interview.

Certain images come to mind when the international community thinks of certain countries. France usually brings the Eiffel Tower to mind. Italy brings to mind Italian cuisine. Egypt brings to mind the Nile River and the Pyramids.

But what do they think about Vietnam’s image?

This is why festivals are a very important part of both selling the national image and defining the national identity for Vietnam inside and outside the country, not to mention for attracting other nations’ citizens to explore Vietnamese culture.

It has been estimated that there are roughly 8,000 festivals in Vietnam each year and most of them are held in the spring. These festivals should represent everything that is good about Vietnam.

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