Red Flamboyant Festival - Hai Phong 2026 opens with a spirit of convergence and development aspirations
After more than a decade, the Red Flamboyant Festival has become a signature cultural hallmark and a distinctive cultural product of Hai Phong, as well as a highly anticipated event for both residents and visitors.
On the evening of May 8, at the Political–Administrative Center Square in the Bac Song Cam New Urban Area, Hai Phong City solemnly held the opening ceremony of the Red Flamboyant Festival – Hai Phong 2026 under the theme “Hai Phong – Convergence - Radiance,” celebrating the 71st anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day (May 13, 1955 – May 13, 2026).
Attending the opening ceremony on behalf of the central leadership were Mr. Trinh Van Quyet, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization; Mr. To Huy Rua, former Politburo Member, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Head of the Central Organization Commission, and former Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee; and Mr. Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, and former Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee.
Also attending were former leaders of the Party and State; members of the Party Central Committee who are leaders or representatives of central ministries, departments, and agencies; as well as leaders of provinces and centrally-run cities.
Representing Hai Phong City were Mr. Le Ngoc Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly Delegation; Mr. Do Manh Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee; Mr. Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Committee; Mr. Le Van Hieu, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Council; Mr. Pham Van Lap, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Phong City; former leaders of Hai Phong City and the former Hai Duong Province through different periods; members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee; leaders of the National Assembly Delegation, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the city; representatives of city departments, agencies, organizations, and mass unions; as well as leaders of communes, wards, and special zones.
The opening ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests from diplomatic missions, international organizations, international delegations, and friendly countries; the business community from both inside and outside the city; along with a large number of residents and visitors from across the country.
In his opening speech, Chairman of the Hai Phong City People’s Committee Do Thanh Trung emphasized that the Red Flamboyant Festival – Hai Phong 2026 is a cultural and tourism event of special significance, marking the first festival season organized within the expanded space and stature of the new Hai Phong City. Under the theme “Hai Phong – Convergence - Radiance,” the festival is not only an occasion to reflect on the city’s heroic historical traditions and honor the profound cultural heritage of this “land of outstanding people and sacred spirit,” but also a demonstration of the city’s strong aspirations for development in the new era.
The Chairman of the City People’s Committee affirmed that, from its heroic traditions associated with the image of General Le Chan, the spirit of the Bach Dang victories, and the distinctive cultural values nurtured through generations, Hai Phong today is rising strongly to become a major industrial and logistics center and a strategic maritime economic gateway of the country. At the same time, the city continues to maintain its role as a key growth engine of northern Vietnam, achieving double-digit economic growth for 11 consecutive years.
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According to Chairman Do Thanh Trung, after more than a decade of organization, the Red Flamboyant Festival has become a signature cultural symbol and a distinctive cultural product of Hai Phong, as well as a highly anticipated event for residents and visitors alike. Continuing that journey, the Red Flamboyant Festival – Hai Phong 2026 features not only the opening art program but also more than 60 cultural and sports activities, along with the groundbreaking and inauguration of 14 key projects and works, creating new development space for the city.
Chairman Do Thanh Trung emphasized that Hai Phong remains committed to its goal of becoming a modern, civilized, ecological, and livable industrial port city. The city will continue pioneering digital transformation, green transformation, and innovation, while gradually building the brand of a “Festival City – City of Music,” elevating the Red Flamboyant Festival into a nationally and internationally recognized cultural and tourism brand as well as a bridge for investment promotion.
This year, the opening art program of the Red Flamboyant Festival – Hai Phong 2026 was elaborately staged, combining performing arts with modern presentation technology to recreate Hai Phong’s journey of development from its historical depth to its dynamic present and aspirations for the future. The program consisted of three chapters: “Hai Phong – Epic at the Frontline of the Waves,” “The Converging Source,” and “Aspiration to Shine.”
Through a series of impressive performances, the program vividly highlighted the historical and cultural traditions and the spirit of “Loyalty and Determination to Win” of the Port City, while portraying Hai Phong as a city rising strongly in its role as a national center for industry, seaports, logistics, and tourism.
The program also emphasized outstanding heritage values recognized by UNESCO, such as the Cat Ba Archipelago and the Con Son – Kiep Bac – Thanh Mai – Kinh Chu – Nham Duong complex of historical relics, alongside the city’s aspirations for development and international integration in the new era.
The program featured famous artists such as People’s Artist Khanh Hoa, People’s Artist Nhat Thuan, Meritorious Artist Dang Duong, Meritorious Artist Vu Thang Loi, singers My Tam, Trong Tan, Pham Thu Ha, Quoc Thien, Duong Hoang Yen, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, and the group OPLUS, together with numerous singers, performers, dance groups, dance troupes, and mass art forces.
As part of the opening ceremony, Hai Phong City officially announced and presented the title of Hai Phong Tourism Ambassador to Nguyen Thi Van Nhi, the Second Runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2024. This marked the first time the city officially introduced a Hai Phong Tourism Ambassador, representing a new step in tourism promotion and marketing toward a more modern, professional, and influential approach.
At the event, Hai Phong City also announced the decision recognizing Vu Yen Tourist Area as a provincial-level tourist destination, while presenting certificates to establishments meeting Hai Phong’s Green Tourism standards, including Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel, Nam Cuong Hai Duong Hotel, Flamingo Cat Ba, Dragon Ocean International Tourist Area, Vietravel Hai Phong, Hoa Binh Travel, Ngoc Anh Group, and others.
The recognition and honoring of these exemplary units not only contribute to improving the quality of tourism services but also affirm the city’s orientation toward green and sustainable tourism development in the coming years.
The opening night concluded with a dazzling fireworks display lighting up the sky over Bac Song Cam, spreading the spirit of “Hai Phong – Convergence - Radiance” and opening a series of outstanding cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism activities throughout 2026.
Le Hiep - Do Hien - Hoang Phuoc