On the evening of July 17, at 2/4 Square (Nha Trang ward), Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee opened Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026 with the theme "Colors of the Ocean - International reach", attracting more than 15,000 domestic and international people and tourists to participate.
Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasized that in the new era of development, the sea continues to be a strategic development space, a gateway to international integration, playing a particularly important role in socio-economic development, national defense, and security of the country.
According to the Vice President, Khanh Hoa converges many typical values of Vietnam's sea and islands with long coastlines, many beautiful bays, rich ecosystems and a rich history and unique culture. With a new development space and special mechanisms, the locality has full conditions to become a modern marine economic center, a high-quality marine tourism center and a gateway for international exchange.
The Vice President assessed that Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, after more than 20 years and 10 editions, has gone beyond the framework of a local festival to become a cultural, economic and foreign affairs event of national significance.
The Vice President requested coastal localities to continue to effectively implement the policy of sustainable marine economic development; pioneering green transformation, harmonizing exploitation and conservation of resources, protecting ecosystems, and adapting to climate change.
At the same time, promote the value of marine culture, create sustainable livelihoods for fishermen, ensure sea and island sovereignty and take science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as driving forces for development. In particular, it is necessary to build marine tourism into a key economic sector, raising the brand of Vietnamese marine tourism in the international arena.
The Vice President expressed her belief that Khanh Hoa will continue to take the lead in developing a blue sea economy, high-quality marine tourism, gradually making the Sea Festival a prestigious event in the region and towards international stature.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung - Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee - said that the sea is a string connecting the lands of Khanh Hoa. From Van Phong, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh to Vinh Hy, Ca Na, nearly 500 km of coastline and more than 200 large and small islands create a vast development space, converging unique cultural values such as Tram Huong land, Cham culture, Raglai, Ho Ba Trao, Yen craft, Bau Truc pottery and My Nghiep weaving.
According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, more than 40 cultural, artistic, sports and tourism activities will create a colorful Festival space, but it is the people who are the subject and the soul of the festival. The friendliness and hospitality of the people will leave a beautiful impression on tourists when coming to Khanh Hoa.
The opening ceremony was elaborately staged with two art chapters "Convergence of Essence - Motherland Harmony" and "Green Symphony - Shining Pearl Bay".
The night was exciting with an art exchange program of Lao and Korean art troupes and performances by Vietnamese singers. Closing the opening ceremony was a brilliant high-altitude art fireworks display, opening a series of cultural and sports activities of the Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026.
