Opening Night of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival

On the evening of July 17, at 2/4 Square (Nha Trang Ward), the Provincial People's Committee held the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival with the theme "Ocean Colors - Reaching International Heights." Attending the opening ceremony on behalf of Party and State leaders and central agencies, as well as provinces and cities, were: Vo Thi Anh Xuan - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the State; Ngo Dong; Ngo Dong; Ngo Dong Hai - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; Nghiem Xuan Thanh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee; Nguyen Khac Toan - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hue City; Ho Van Mung - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang Province; and leaders of various central ministries, departments, and branches. Representing Khanh Hoa Province were: Tran Phong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Ho Xuan Truong - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Lam Dong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Nguyen Viet Hung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Khac Ha - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; and leaders of various provincial departments, agencies, and localities. Also attending the opening ceremony were leaders of domestic provinces and cities; heads of diplomatic agencies and foreign localities; former provincial leaders; as well as a large number of local residents and domestic and international tourists.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, along with Party, State, and provincial leaders, attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasized: Vietnam is a maritime nation with a sea area of approximately 1 million km² and a coastline spanning over 3,260 km. The sea is not only a space for survival, development, and exchange for the Vietnamese people throughout thousands of years of history, but also a strategically important space for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Since ancient times, our ancestors have looked toward the sea, conquered it, established and exercised sovereignty, and created unique cultural values and the mettle of the Vietnamese people. In the new era of development, the sea continues to be a strategic space for development and a gateway for international integration, holding a particularly important position for the economy, society, national defense, and security, contributing to firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Vietnamese Fatherland...

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan delivers a speech and offers congratulations to Khanh Hoa Province at the ceremony.

Khanh Hoa is a land that converges the typical values of Vietnam's sea and islands, with a long coastline, many famous beautiful bays, a rich marine ecosystem, and many monuments and heritages associated with a long history and unique culture. With a new space for development, specific mechanisms and policies, and a strong aspiration to rise, Khanh Hoa possesses all the conditions to become a modern marine economic center, a high-quality marine tourism center, and an important international gateway for the country. The development of Khanh Hoa today not only creates momentum for the South Central Coast and Central Highlands regions but also contributes to building Vietnam into a strong, prosperous, and sustainably developed maritime nation. The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, after more than two decades and 10 successful editions, has transcended the framework of a local festival to become a cultural, economic, and diplomatic event of national significance. With the theme "Ocean Colors - Reaching International Heights," the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival continues to honor and spread the unique values of Vietnam's marine and island culture; promoting and fostering the development of tourism, the marine economy, and international integration.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan urged ministries, branches, and localities, especially Khanh Hoa Province and other coastal localities, to deeply grasp the strategic importance of the sea; and to continue implementing effectively the guidelines and policies of the Party and State on sustainable development of the marine economy and culture. On that basis, it is necessary to pioneer the green transition for the marine economy; harmoniously combine exploitation with conservation, and management with the efficient use of resources and marine space, associated with protecting the environment, marine ecosystems, and adapting to climate change. Preserve and promote marine cultural values, creating sustainable and prosperous livelihoods for the people and fishermen in coastal and island regions. Ensure firm national defense, security, and sovereignty over Vietnam's seas and islands. In particular, it is necessary to build marine tourism into a spearhead economic sector with high-quality products rich in identity; promote regional linkages, expand international cooperation, and affirm the brand of Vietnam's marine tourism on the world map.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Viet Hung delivers the opening speech for the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

In his opening speech at the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Viet Hung affirmed: To understand Khanh Hoa, start with the sea. Because the sea is the source of life, culture, and aspirations for development. The sea connects the regions of Khanh Hoa. From Van Phong, Nha Trang, and Cam Ranh to Vinh Hy and Ca Na, nearly 500 km of coastline and over 200 large and small islands open up a vast space for development. On that strip of land, there is the land of Agarwood; Cham culture and Raglai culture; *Ho ba trao* (traditional folk singing), bird's nest industry, Bau Truc pottery, and My Nghiep weaving. Each region has its own color, together creating a Khanh Hoa that is broader in space, richer in culture, and more abundant in potential. The Sea Festival is where those colors converge. From the shores of Nha Trang Bay looking out to the big sea, we always remember Truong Sa - where officers, soldiers, and citizens are night and day guarding the sea and islands, maintaining peace for the Fatherland...

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung emphasized that Khanh Hoa chooses to rise from the sea and is steadfast in preserving its blue color. Each step of development must be in harmony with nature and responsible to the future. The theme "Ocean Colors - Reaching International Heights" is the message of the Sea Festival, while also reflecting a development choice: To go far, one must maintain one's identity; to reach higher, one must raise standards in everything we do. The 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, with more than 40 cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism activities, will create a colorful space. But the people are the subjects, the hosts, and the soul of the Sea Festival. The smile and hospitality of every citizen will make for beautiful memories of Khanh Hoa...

Opening scene of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival Opening Ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, delegates, residents, and tourists enjoyed a spectacular, impressive, and colorful artistic performance program. The program consisted of three parts: Quintessence Converges - Mother Earth Harmonizes; Green Symphony - Shimmering Jade Bay; Aspiration to Rise - Radiant Era. Through scenes such as: Origin of Vitality; Earth Wakes; Song of the Fishing Fleet; Dance of the Blue Ocean; Coastal City; Love by the Salty Sea; Shimmering Jade Bay; Dawn on the Mainland; Radiant Khanh Hoa; Khanh Hoa Festival Season; and Khanh Hoa, Faith Shines..., the program took the audience from legend to the reality of life and daily routines of the people of Khanh Hoa, expressing the determination and aspiration to build and develop the land of agarwood and bird's nests based on the internal strength of history and culture, reaching out to become a brilliant international gateway, a new growth pole of the South Central Coast region and the whole country.

Below are some images from the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival Opening Ceremony, captured by reporters from Khanh Hoa Radio and Television.

The scene of the coastal city of Nha Trang during the opening night of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

The stage of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival seen from above.

The image of a dynamic Khanh Hoa rising in the new era was also depicted with songs, melodies, and symbolic images.

Singer Duc Phuc performs the song "Wonderful Summer."

The 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival brings a vibrant festive atmosphere.

The "river" of shimmering, colorful parade floats on the opening night of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

After the opening ceremony, the coastal city of Nha Trang will enter a series of activities and events for the Sea Festival.

The opening night concluded in the joy of everyone, ushering in truly meaningful moments.

A large number of residents and tourists came to watch and cheer for the opening night of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

High-altitude fireworks display on the opening night.

NHAN TAM - VINH THANH - MINH TRUC - MANH CUONG