The festival will run from September 30 to October 15, with the theme “Dragon Bridge tells of 1,000 years of Thang Long”, a historical account of Vietnam.

With this project, Long Bien Bridge will remember the past with an exhibition of photographs, documents and other artefacts depicting national defence over the past 10 centuries.

The bridge will also host an exhibition of contemporary arts, including performances of street art while flying the flags of many nations.

The highlight of the festival will be a concert and a modern light show, which will take place on the bridge on October 10.

A ship will sail from the old imperial capital of Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh Province to Long Bien Bridge and Halong Bay. The ship will carry a 100 strong band and popular overseas orchestra Urban Sax. The band will represent the 100 Vietnamese children in the Au Co-Lac Long Quan legend.

The voyage is to re-enact the process of removing the country’s capital city by King Ly Thai To.

A fleet of small boats taking the same route will carry monks, nuns and Buddhist followers who will pray for the country’s heroes and martyrs who scarified their lives for national independence and freedom.

Nga said that a promotion campaign for the festival will be held in Paris and neighbouring regions in early September. The campaign will include performances of Vietnamese folk art and Urban Sax’s contemporary arts. Nga also has a plan to turn Long Bien Bridge into an outdoor art gallery and a road to walk for peace.