The event attracted artists from such provinces as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, who took turns of beating drum, and gongs, singing and dancing, and playing Hue Royal Court Music, and ca tru (ceremonial songs).

The same day, an exhibition displaying a collection of ancient artifacts of southern Vietnam opened at the HCM City Museum.

The collection includes hundreds of wood paintings, decorative objects and prayer objects in bronze, silver, stone and baked clay.

Many photos of sculpture and architectural works are also displayed at the exhibition, which will last until March 23, 2012.

Another collection of Vietnamese traditional dresses is also on show at the Southern Vietnam Women Museum and entry tickets are free until November 30.

More than 200 documents written in Chinese and nom (Vietnamese characters transcribed from Chinese ones) scripts are made public for the first time at the city’s General Library at 69 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, HCM City.

One of these documents, which is considered a national treasure, features activities of kings and queens of the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s last royalty.