Hue Festival 2012, the international event being held for its 7th year in the north central coastal Thua Thien-Hue province will be the highlight for Vietnam\'s National Tourism Year 2012, said Nguyen Duy Hien, director of the Hue Festival Organization Committee. Hien made the remarks at a press conference here on Wednesday to announce the organization for the national tourism year for the north central coastal region-Hue. Hue Festival 2012 is designated as a platform for the cultural exchange initiative of the Forum of East Asia and Latin America Co- operation (FEALAC). Particularly, the 13th World Conference on Historical Cities gathering 80 cities from 55 nations over the world will be convened for three days in association with the Hue Festival 2012, said Hien. According to Hien, the festival will showcase distinctive art performances from all parts of the country, especially the royal art forms from the city of Hue, and performances with cultural nuances by more than 30 leading art troupes from many countries worldwide. Themed \"Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development-The Rendezvous for Historical Cities\", Hue Festival 2012 is under the auspices of the National Tourism Year entitled \"Heritage Tourism\" , addressed Ngo Hoa, permanent vice chairman of Thua Thien-Hue\'s Provincial People\'s Committee. This is considered an ideal opportunity to promote Hue as a city of festival, heritage and culture, and unique tourist destination in Vietnam, Hoa added. On the sidelines of the festival, other key events including the Imperial Night, Oriental Night, Nam Giao Offering Ritual, Ao dai Grand Show, installation art displays, a Children\'s Festival, the Hue Poetry Festival, and Gastronomy Days will also be held.