Ha Long city gears up for festival-filled holidays

Ahead of the main celebration, the city will host various events starting April 29, including temple festivals, a lion dance showcase, culinary events such as the Beer and Grilled Squid Festival, and the 2025 Quang Ninh OCOP Summer Fair.

Ha Long Bay has been listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site on three occasions. (Photo: VNA)
Ha Long Bay has been listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site on three occasions. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Ninh (VNA) – A vibrant line-up of festivals and cultural events is set to take place in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, during the upcoming April 30 – May 1 public holidays, as part of efforts to attract visitors and strengthen the city’s tourism brand.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Chairman of the Ha Long People’s Committee, the city is home to a rich and unique cultural and historical heritage, with 96 recognised sites. Notably, Ha Long Bay has been listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site on three occasions. The city is currently home to 13 traditional and modern festivals, several of which have been restored and are actively preserved and celebrated.

The highlight of this holiday season is Ha Long Carnaval 2025, scheduled for May 1 along Vo Nguyen Giap street and at Sun Carnaval Square in Bai Chay ward. This large-scale provincial event, held annually, has become a major draw for locals and tourists alike. Additional activities will include fashion shows, interactive booths, and lively street performances running throughout the holiday period.

Ahead of the main celebration, the city will host various events starting April 29, including temple festivals, a lion dance showcase, culinary events such as the Beer and Grilled Squid Festival, and the 2025 Quang Ninh OCOP Summer Fair.

Looking to the future, Ha Long is working to revive a number of traditional festivals and expand existing ones, while preparing scientific dossiers to seek national heritage recognition for key cultural events as part of its vision to become a true city of festivals.

Through these efforts, Ha Long aims to further boost its tourism sector by offering high-quality, distinctive experiences that attract more visitors and contribute significantly to local economic growth. The city has set a target of welcoming 20 million tourists to Quang Ninh in 2025./.

VNA

See more

Delegates perform the ceremony to officially declare Hue Railway Station a tourist destination (Photo: VNA)

Heritage values maximised on central train journey

The Hue–Da Nang route is positioned not merely as transportation but as a cultural journey along one of central Vietnam’s most scenic corridors. With comprehensive upgrades, the “Central Heritage Connection Journey” is expected to become a must-experience tourism product in 2026.

The artists perform the ballet "The Nutcracker" at Ho Guom Opera House on March 25 (Photo: VNA)

Russian classic ballet enchants Hanoi audiences

From the opening scenes, the auditorium was transformed into a fairytale world, enhanced by elaborate staging and the timeless music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, including “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Flowers”. Technically demanding sequences such as leaps and pas de deux captivated the audience with their precision, harmony and expressive coordination.

Vietnamese community in New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Wellington Cup 2026 strengthens Vietnamese community ties in New Zealand

This year’s event brought together more than 50 players from across Wellington, including the central area, Karori, Lower Hutt, and Johnsonville. Matches were played in a lively and competitive atmosphere, attracting enthusiastic cheers from Vietnamese people living, studying, and working in the capital.

Party General Secretary To Lam, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and other leaders at the concert. (Photo: VNA)

Party chief attends chamber symphony concert in Hanoi

Directed by the Central Military Commission - the Ministry of National Defence, and the Military University of Culture and Arts, the event was meant to celebrate the success of the 14th National Party and the election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.

Participants join the cultural exchange programme at Due Tam Tea Cultural Space in Chau Pha commune, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

Cultural exchange fosters ASEAN people-to-people connectivity

The event was jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam–Southeast Asia Friendship Association of the city. It drew the participation of ASEAN consuls general and representatives of consulates in Ho Chi Minh City, along with local officials and representatives from agencies and localities.