On December 12th, the People's Committee of Can Tho City issued Plan No. 188 (KH188) for organizing the Can Tho River Culture Festival in 2025. This plan includes some adjustments compared to the information previously announced at the press conference.
Tourists admire the Can Tho Bridge spanning the Hau River.
PHOTO: QUANG MINH NHAT
The river festival season is bustling with activity.
The 2025 Can Tho River Culture Festival will take place primarily in Ninh Kieu Ward, Cai Khe Ward, and surrounding areas from December 27th to January 1st, 2026. The festival, themed "Can Tho - The Colors of the River," includes an opening ceremony at 8 PM on December 27th at Khai Luong Canal (Cai Khe Ward), broadcast live on Can Tho Newspaper and Radio-Television. The opening ceremony will depict the distinctive river culture of Can Tho City through stories about boats, daily life, livelihoods connected to the river, as well as folk festivals, beliefs, and cuisine. The opening program will recreate the image of a floating market, a vibrant and multifaceted symbol of the river culture of the Mekong Delta. In particular, the culture of the floating markets (Cai Rang, Nga Nam, Nga Bay) will be introduced as a unique symbol, contributing to promoting the image of Can Tho tourism, linked to sustainable economic growth.
The waterways of Can Tho are ready for the festival season.
PHOTO: QUANG MINH NHAT
Following the opening ceremony, at 9:30 PM, a drone show and fireworks display will feature artistic drone light shows depicting the cultural heritage and traditional values of the city, its distinctive architectural heritage, and its vision and future socio-economic development direction.
Cruise on the Can Tho River
PHOTO: QUANG MINH NHAT
Mr. Nguyen Van Bay, City Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, said that from December 27th to January 1st, 2026, many artists will participate in a photo exhibition titled "Life on the River - The Mekong Delta Past and Present" at Ninh Kieu Wharf Park (Ninh Kieu Ward). Also at Ninh Kieu Wharf Park, during the festival, artists will perform street acoustic music daily from 8 am to 6 pm for domestic and international tourists. On the night of December 28th, at Cai Khe Canal (Cai Khe Ward), Anh Mai Sports Trading and Service Company Limited, in coordination with relevant units, will organize the release of floating lanterns on the river. From December 28th to January 1st, 2026, Anh Mai Sports Trading and Service Company Limited will continue to coordinate with relevant units to organize a water sports experience area at Cai Khe Canal (the section from Cai Khe lock to Ninh Kieu pedestrian bridge). This water sports experience area will offer stand-up paddleboarding services, basic technique instruction, and popularization of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking. On December 31st, also at Cai Khe Canal, Anh Mai Sports Trading and Service Company Limited continued to coordinate with relevant units to organize a parade and the opening ceremony of the 2025 Can Tho City Open SUP Boat Race. "On January 1st, 2026, on Cai Khe Canal, Anh Mai Sports Trading and Service Company Limited, in coordination with relevant units, will organize a Flyboard demonstration and the 2025 Can Tho City Open Composite Boat Racing Championship. Prior to that, on December 29th on the Hau River, Tan Dai Phong Construction - Trading - Manufacturing Company Limited, in coordination with relevant units, will organize a sailing race, attracting tourists from near and far. From December 27th to January 1st, 2026, the Ben Ninh Kieu Park area will also feature spaces showcasing sports, health, and characteristic cuisine; a display space for OCOP products and tourism products; and demonstrations of local cuisine...", he stated. Nguyen Van Bay provided the information.
Victoria Hotel Can Tho organizes river cleanup.
PHOTO: QUANG MINH NHAT
The green streams welcome visitors.
According to Plan 188, from December 15th to 25th, 2025, in key areas (Ninh Kieu Ward, Cai Rang Ward, An Binh Ward, Cai Khe Ward) related to the festival and in all communes and wards of Can Tho City, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, in coordination with Anh Mai Sports Trading and Service Company Limited and the People's Committees of communes and wards, will organize waste collection, removal of floating garbage, clearing and cleaning of riverbanks and canals; and simultaneously promote and encourage people to raise their awareness of environmental protection. The aforementioned agencies, businesses, and units will also coordinate the implementation of a SUP paddling program to clean up garbage on rivers and canals, in the festival area and key river sections. These activities continue to send a message about sustainable green rivers welcoming domestic and international tourists.
Cai Rang Floating Market, a destination for many tourists.
PHOTO: QUANG MINH NHAT
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, said that this first Can Tho River Culture Festival aims to create a cultural and tourism highlight, practically welcoming the new year 2026, contributing to creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere, and improving the spiritual life of the people. The festival continues to introduce and promote the unique river culture of the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho City in particular to people and domestic and foreign tourists; at the same time, it raises community awareness in protecting the environment, especially the river ecosystem, and encourages sustainable tourism development. The Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 will continue to diversify and elevate the characteristic cultural and tourism events of Can Tho City, creating a ripple effect and contributing to promoting overall socio-economic development. The festival will bring surprising experiences for tourists when they set foot in Tay Do, a peaceful land of rivers and waterways with many attractive tourist routes. Through this festival, the city aims to build the image of Can Tho as a "Mekong River Tourism Center," promoting national and international tourism, stimulating demand for tourism, food, and accommodation services, creating a strong ripple effect, and contributing to rapid and sustainable economic development. The Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 will continue to contribute to strengthening the effective exploitation of resources and tourism products on the river; developing inner-city tourism routes; connecting river tourism between Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho City, and the Mekong Delta provinces; and expanding river tourism routes connecting with countries along the Mekong River.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/can-tho-sac-mau-song-nuoc-le-hoi-185251212190508227.htm
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