Vietnam Airlines ready to serve tourists to Hue festival HANOI - The upgrade of Phu Bai Airport in the former imperial city of Hue nears completion to serve visitors to the Hue Festival 2000, which will be held from April 8-19. As much as VND37 billion (US$ 2.6 million) was poured into the upgrade of the airport's runways, apron, conveyors, information and ground control systems, and other facilities to enable the airport to receive A320 aircraft and heavy cargo carriers. The airport has so far this year handled more than 42,500 passengers, including 26,500 foreigners, to Hue, a wellknown tourist site for both Vietnamese and foreign people. Vietnam Airlines will during the 12 festive days add 18 flights to the Hanoi-Hue-Hanoi route, eight on the Ho Chi Minh City-Hue-Ho Chi Minh City route, and four on the Hanoi-Da Nang-Hanoi route. It hopes to serve 2,200 tourists per day during the festival. Vietnam Airlines currently provides 14-22 flights a week on the Hanoi-Hue-Hanoi route and 18-20 flights on the Ho Chi Minh City-Hue-Ho Chi Minh City route. The Hue Festival, one of the biggest cultural events in the country in the year 2000, will open at the Ngo Mon (Moon Gate) Square on April 8 with an "Ancient City Night" show. It will highlight Vietnamese culture, particularly that of the ancient imperial city, as well as tourism attractions. During the 12-day festival, performances of royal music and dances, folk dances and water puppetry and traditional dress (ao dai) fashion shows will take place inside the Hoang Thanh (Royal Town). In addition, a number of ballet, play and circus items will be performed by French art troupes. Cultural and sporting activities will also include rites at the Dien Hon Chen (Jade Bowl Temple), boat racing on the Perfume River, kite flying contests, exhibitions of Hue paintings and photographs, and visits to typical houses and gardens in Hue. The festival will conclude on April 19 with a "Night of Lanterns" during 1,000 female students on 300 lantern boats will perform on the Huong (Perfume) River. On this occasion, the local tourism service will organize tourist programmes including "green tours" to orchards around Hue city, traditional food festival tours in which visitors will have a chance to taste several Hue delicacies and visits to royal tombs and museums in the ancient citadel city. Vietnam News Agency, March 29, 2000.