The 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival 2025, jointly organized by the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Theatre Artists Association, is currently taking place in Ninh Binh from November 20 to 30, 2025. This cultural and artistic event honors outstanding experimental theatre productions from Vietnam and around the world, offering visitors and local residents unique and highly creative experiences.
This year’s festival is being hosted across four cities and provinces: Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, and Ninh Binh. Notably, 2025 marks the first time that Ninh Binh has been selected as one of the official venues for the International Experimental Theatre Festival.
The segment of the festival held in Ninh Binh welcomes more than 400 artists and performers from 10 international art troupes and 19 domestic theatre units. The event not only serves as a platform for交流, artistic exchange, and professional development among theatres and artists but also contributes to promoting the distinctive cultural and artistic values of Vietnam. At the same time, it helps showcase the image of Ninh Binh—Vietnam’s heritage land—to audiences at home and abroad.
The Opening Ceremony took place on the evening of November 20, 2025, at the Pham Thi Tran Theatre. Competition performances continue to be staged at the Pham Thi Tran Theatre and the Provincial Convention Center. In addition, various community performances are being held at Hoa Lu Ancient Street, the 3-2 Cultural House, the Cultural Houses of Phu Ly and Duy Tan Wards, and in Tran Thuong and Hai Hau Communes. The Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation are scheduled for the evening of November 30, 2025, at the Pham Thi Tran Theatre.
Audiences attending the festival have the opportunity to enjoy a rich diversity of experimental theatre works across multiple genres, including drama, mime, physical theatre, musical theatre, cheo (traditional operetta), puppetry, circus arts, and cai luong (reformed opera). This vibrant artistic space blends traditional cultural elements with modern creativity, creating a dynamic and inspiring environment.
By hosting part of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival 2025, Ninh Binh has affirmed its role as a creative cultural hub of northern Vietnam. The event also serves as a highlight for the province’s year-end tourism season, attracting a large number of domestic and international visitors to explore the region’s rich cultural experiences and outstanding artistic values.