Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026 opened in Nha Trang on July 17 under the theme "Colours of the Ocean – Reaching International Heights," highlighting Vietnam's maritime heritage and the province's ambition to become a globally recognised marine tourism destination.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said Vietnam is a maritime nation with about 1 million sq.km of sea and more than 3,260 km of coastline. The sea has long been a vital space for the nation's survival, development and exchanges, while also holding strategic importance for national construction and defence.
She called on Khanh Hoa and other coastal localities to effectively implement the Party's and State's policies on the sustainable development of the marine economy and marine culture, while further recognising the strategic importance of Vietnam's seas and islands in the country's new development era.
The Vice State President stressed the need to develop marine tourism into a spearhead economic sector through high-quality, distinctive tourism products, strengthen regional connectivity, expand international cooperation and enhance Vietnam's marine tourism brand globally.
Having been held 10 times, the Khanh Hoa Sea Festival has evolved beyond a local celebration into an event of national significance in culture, economy and external relations. This year's edition continues to honour Vietnam's maritime cultural heritage while promoting tourism, the marine economy and international integration.
Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Viet Hung said Khanh Hoa remains committed to pursuing marine-based development while preserving its blue seas for future generations.
He said sustainable development must create prosperity, improve people's livelihoods and protect the marine environment, helping the province realise its goal of becoming a centrally-run city by 2030 and an internationally recognised centre for services, tourism and the marine economy.
Hung noted that the festival's theme reflects the province's development vision of preserving cultural identity while raising standards to achieve international integration. The strategy has already produced encouraging results, with Khanh Hoa welcoming more than 11.9 million visitors, including over 4.6 million international arrivals, in the first six months of this year.
The festival features 40 cultural, artistic, sporting and tourism activities and is expected to attract between 600,000 and 800,000 domestic and international visitors. On the occasion, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a digital tourism platform to help visitors access destinations, tourism services and local cultural information more conveniently.
The opening ceremony featured a large-scale artistic programme performed by leading Vietnamese artists and art troupes from Laos and the Republic of Korea.
As part of the festival, the "Ao Dai – Colours of the Sea" event took place at April 2 Square on July 18, drawing more than 2,000 members of the provincial Women's Union and numerous international visitors.
Held for the fifth time, the event's highlight was a bicycle parade along the Nha Trang Bay coastline, combining Vietnam's traditional ao dai with an environmentally friendly means of transport. Organisers said the activity promoted green living, environmental protection and Khanh Hoa as a friendly, sustainable tourism destination, while showcasing Vietnam's cultural identity to international visitors.
The event also featured music, dance and ao dai performances by women's union members from across the province./.
