Details
Overview of Khanh Hoa Sea Festival
The Sea Festival is one of the long-standing events associated with the tourism image of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa. Unlike a single performance program, the Festival is built as a series of interdisciplinary activities, connecting arts, folk culture, sports, tourism, cuisine, commerce, and community activities.
The event often creates a festive atmosphere in many public spaces, with the central area of Nha Trang and April 2 Square playing a prominent role. Some other activities may be held in other localities, tourist attractions, and cultural spaces within the province, depending on the program of each edition.
The Sea Festival was first organized in 2003. In subsequent editions, the event was named Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival and was held biennially. In 2021, the program was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2026, the name Khanh Hoa Sea Festival will be used, marking a shift from a festival mainly associated with the brand of the coastal city of Nha Trang to an event representing the broader cultural and tourism space of the entire province.
The journey to build a sea festival brand
The first Festival in 2003 was organized in the context of Khanh Hoa wanting to build a cultural event capable of clearly showcasing the island identity while promoting the image of Nha Trang to domestic and international tourists.
The first three editions in 2003, 2005, and 2007 all used the theme “Nha Trang – Meeting Point.” This was the period when the Festival gradually shaped its organizational style, expanding from art programs to sports, tourism, fairs, exhibitions, and community exchanges.
Through each edition, the scale and content of the event continued to change. Programs gradually focused more on island culture, international exchanges, contemporary art, environmental protection, and promotion of local tourism products. Thus, the Festival became not only a performance occasion but also a part of building the destination brand of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa.
After the 2019 edition, the Festival had to be interrupted in 2021. The event returned in 2023 and continued in 2025 before entering a new phase with the name Khanh Hoa Sea Festival from 2026.
Why was the name expanded from 2026?
The name Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival once clearly reflected the central role of Nha Trang in the province's tourism system. Most important programs were held in the coastal area, squares, and central streets of Nha Trang; images of the sea, bay, and tourist urban life also dominated.
From 2026, the name Khanh Hoa Sea Festival shows that the representative scope of the event has expanded. The Festival not only tells the story of a coastal city but aims to introduce the overall resources, people, and identity of the entire province.
In that space, Nha Trang remains an important convergence point, but the festival content can connect more diverse cultural layers and landscapes: coastal areas and bays, coastal communities, Cham heritage, Raglai culture, traditional crafts, local specialties, agricultural and mountainous areas, and new tourism centers.
Therefore, the name change does not diminish Nha Trang's role. On the contrary, Nha Trang becomes a gateway for visitors to access a broader Festival and gain a deeper understanding of Khanh Hoa.
Island cultural identity
The thread running through the Festival is island culture. This is expressed through music, dance, performing arts, costumes, community activities, and images associated with fishermen's lives.
During Festival editions, visitors can encounter many interwoven cultural layers. On one hand, there is the youthful atmosphere of a coastal tourist city with outdoor stages, music, light shows, and sports activities. On the other hand, there are traditional values such as folk arts, sea beliefs, fishing festivals, rowing chants, handicrafts, and the daily life of coastal communities.
The Festival is also a space to introduce the relationship between the people of Khanh Hoa and the sea. The sea not only creates landscapes and tourism products but is also linked to livelihoods, community memory, beliefs, and the way of life of many generations of local residents.
When the event's scope expands under the name Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, the cultural story also becomes more diverse, connecting island identity with other cultural regions in the province.
Notable experiences
Art program and opening ceremony
The opening ceremony is usually a large-scale program using music, dance, stage imagery, and performance technology to introduce the theme of each Festival edition. The content often combines traditional cultural materials with modern artistic language.
This is also the time when the central area of Nha Trang is most crowded. The festive atmosphere spreads from the main stage to the square, coastal roads, and nearby public spaces.
Parades and street activities
Parades, carnivals, or mobile performances create the most vibrant part of the Festival. Floats, artists, mass performers, music, and performance groups appear on the streets, allowing visitors to experience the festival more directly.
Unlike programs that require sitting in a fixed auditorium, street activities create an open and intimate feeling. Locals, tourists, and artists share a common festival space.
Folk culture and traditional arts
Programs of folk songs, folk dances, traditional arts, and heritage performances help the Festival maintain cultural depth. This group of activities is suitable for visitors who want to learn about Khanh Hoa beyond seaside relaxation and entertainment experiences.
Depending on the edition, content may introduce Cham culture, Raglai culture, beliefs of coastal residents, bai choi art, rowing chants, or other folk performance forms associated with the South Central Coast region.
Sports and sea-oriented activities
Tournaments and sports activities are often organized alongside the art program. Content may include sea sports, running races, swimming, boat races, or outdoor community activities.
This group of programs helps clarify the nature of the Festival: the sea is not only a stage backdrop but also a space for movement, play, and community connection.
Cuisine, specialties, and local products
The Festival is also an opportunity to introduce specialties, handicrafts, agricultural products, and OCOP products of Khanh Hoa. For visitors, this is a chance to access many local products in one space instead of searching in separate areas.
Culinary and commercial activities should be seen as supplementary to the cultural experience. Visitors should still check product information, listed prices, origin, and storage conditions before purchasing.
Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026
The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026 has the theme “Colors of the Ocean – Reaching International Heights”. Main activities will be held from July 17 to 19, 2026, at April 2 Square, Nha Trang ward, and some other locations in the province. The series of response activities will be implemented over a broader period, from July 10 to August 10, 2026.
The 2026 program includes many cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism activities. Besides the opening and closing ceremonies, announced highlights include a float parade, music program, fashion show, sports activities, promotion of local specialties, and many community events.
The 2026 Festival holds special significance as it is the first time the event uses the name Khanh Hoa Sea Festival. The organization space still centers on Nha Trang, but the program construction aims at the image of the entire province and broader connectivity with international visitors.
Who is the Festival suitable for?
The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival is suitable for many groups of visitors, especially those who want to combine relaxation with cultural and event experiences.
Families with children can choose outdoor programs, exhibitions, community activities, and spaces introducing local products. Young groups are often interested in music nights, carnivals, light shows, and sports. International visitors can learn about island culture, folk arts, and local life through programs concentrated in the same period.
The Festival is also suitable for photographers, content creators, and cultural researchers. However, main programs often attract large crowds, so visitors need to proactively plan their movement and choose suitable viewing spots.
Combining the Festival with a Khanh Hoa travel itinerary
Visitors staying in central Nha Trang can combine the Festival with visits to the coastal route, Po Nagar Cham Towers, Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang Cathedral, mud baths, or a bay tour.
If they have more time, the Festival can become a starting point for a broader exploration journey to Cam Ranh, Van Phong Bay area, Ninh Hoa, or other cultural and landscape regions of Khanh Hoa. This combination aligns with the new direction of the event: from a festival closely tied to Nha Trang to a space introducing the province more comprehensively.
On days with major programs, travel in the central area may take longer than usual. Visitors should arrange long trips or island tours at times that do not coincide with the opening ceremony, parade, or grand concert they wish to attend.
Notes when attending the Festival
The Festival schedule changes each edition and each day. Visitors should check the official program before planning, especially regarding performance times, stage locations, traffic-restricted areas, and attendance conditions.
Outdoor spaces are often crowded in the evening. It is advisable to arrive early, bring enough water, wear comfortable clothing, and limit carrying valuables. Families with young children should agree on a meeting point in case they get separated.
July in Nha Trang usually has hot weather and many outdoor activities. Sunscreen, hats, comfortable shoes, and a light raincoat are useful items. For programs near the sea, visitors should also follow weather forecasts and instructions from the organizers.
The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival is not just an occasion to gather many entertainment programs. Its more notable value lies in its ability to connect people, visitors, and different cultural layers of the locality. From the foundation of the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival established in 2003, the event is entering a new phase with a broader representative scope, but still keeping the sea and the people of Khanh Hoa at its center.