Khanh Hoa to hold first-ever sea culture and tourism festival
The month-long event will take place from June 7 to July 9 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, promising a wide range of experiences for both domestic and international visitors.
A beach in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province (Photo: VNA)
Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on May 9 officially announced its inaugural sea culture and tourism festival, themed “Nha Trang say Hi!”.
The month-long event will take place from June 7 to July 9 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, promising a wide range of experiences for both domestic and international visitors.
It is expected to feature 36 standout cultural, sporting, and artistic events. Highlights include a traditional swiftlet nest festival on Hon Noi island, an agarwood festival at Ponagar Tower, and an international culinary fest in Tran Phu Park. A host of beach sports competitions are also planned, such as an international beach volleyball tournament, Sea Star Nha Trang open water swimming championships, and Victory Challenge Sailun Cup motorsport race, all expected to draw strong participation from athletes.
Other notable activities include international cultural exchanges, a vibrant carnival parade, and a marine stock release initiative aimed at replenishing aquatic resources and protecting the marine environment.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Thieu noted that over the past 22 years, Khanh Hoa has successfully held 10 editions of the Nha Trang sea festival, establishing it as a local cultural and tourism brand. However, due to evolving circumstances, including ongoingꦰ adm🔯inistrative mergence guided by the central government policy, it has decided to suspend the signature event and introduce the new sea culture and tourism festival in its place.
At the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa sea festival 2015 (Source: VNA)
The province wants to build a more specialised programme that focuses on promoting its unique culture and maritime tourism potential, Thieu explained.
Nguyen Van Nhuan, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said this year’s event marks a comprehensive refresh, not only in name but also in content and format, aiming to provide richer experiences for both tourists and local people.
Khanh Hoa targets 11.8 million ♔tourist arrivals in 2025, including 5.2 million foreigners, and hopes to welcome over 1.5 million during the festival period alone./.
The 2025 Ponagar Tower Festival is taking place from April 16 to 22 in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, attracting thousands of visitors, including Cham ethnic communities from Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and the Central Highlands.
Flight EO3661 operated by IKAR Airlines landed at Cam Ranh International Airport on April 18, carrying 350 Russian tourists from Novy International Airport in Russia. This marks the first charter flight organised by Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Co., Ltd. to bring Russian tourists back to Khanh Hoa after a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
