Every summer, when the flamboyant trees burst into fiery red blossoms, the people of Hai Phong eagerly anticipate a festival season. In 2026, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival holds special significance as it will be held for the first time in the newly merged city, coinciding with the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Hai Phong (May 13, 1955 - May 13, 2026).
Creative imprints stemming from cultural sources.
Among Hai Phong's nearly 1,300 unique traditional festivals, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival stands out as a contemporary creation that remains deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Beginning in 2012, the festival quickly became a prominent annual event, contributing to shaping the city's cultural and tourism brand. Unlike many traditional festivals tied to religious beliefs, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival is designed as an "open festival," where the people are both creators and beneficiaries. Each year, the scale of the festival has continuously expanded, evolving from a key artistic program into a rich series of activities spreading throughout the city. This is why the festival has become a "May rendezvous," attracting not only locals but also a large number of tourists.
Historian Dr. Doan Truong Son, former Chairman of the Hai Phong Historical Science Association, emphasized: In the process of national cultural development, generations must always inherit and simultaneously create new forms of festivals suitable to the social context. Building upon the traditional festivals of Hai Phong and Hai Duong in the past, the Red Phoenix Flower Festival becomes a vivid testament to this continuity. Inseparable from the past, the festival contributes to enriching the local festival system and simultaneously creates a unique cultural highlight for the modern city.
After nearly 15 years, despite a two-year interruption in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival has still marked 12 successful seasons with recurring themes: (2012) “The dazzling red of Hai Phong”; (2013) “Red River Civilization”; (2014) “Cat Ba in the color of Red Flamboyant Flowers”; (2015) “Hai Phong - A heroic epic of 60 years”; (2016) “Hai Phong - Connecting the circle of friends”; (2017, 2018) “Hai Phong - Reaching out to the great sea”; (2019, 2022) “Hai Phong - A successful destination”; (2023) “Hai Phong - Shining in the coastal region”; (2024) “Hai Phong - Shining brightly in the heritage region”; (2025) “Hai Phong - 70 years of faith and aspirations”.
Each theme is not just a slogan but also reflects the journey of development, from affirming identity, expanding exchanges and integration to honoring heritage and inspiring aspirations for the future. From a cultural initiative, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival has gradually become a brand, a vibrant symbol of the dynamic, creative, and ever-evolving city of Hai Phong.
A season of new hope and aspirations.
In 2026, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival will take on a new scale as it is held for the first time in the city of Hai Phong after its merger with Hai Duong. This is not only a change in administrative boundaries but also a historical turning point, opening up a vast space for development, connecting the cultural depth of the Eastern region with the economic, industrial, and port potential of Hai Phong.
Following the merger, the city successfully organized the City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, elected representatives to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, and quickly consolidated the government apparatus, creating a foundation for a new development strategy with the goal of high and sustainable growth. In this context, the 2026 Red Phoenix Flower Festival is not only a cultural event but also a significant political and social event, demonstrating the spirit of unity and the aspirations of the entire city. "Convergence" represents the culmination of resources – people, culture, and economy – from the two regions; while "shining" is the goal, affirming the position of a modern, dynamic, and livable city. The festival becomes the clearest expression of this spirit, where the past and present meet, where tradition and innovation blend.
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The atmosphere of anticipation for the festival has spread throughout the lives of the people. Ms. Le Thi Vi (An Bien ward) shared that every year she looks forward to the festival as an indispensable part of her spiritual life. After the merger, that excitement has grown even stronger as people expect a grand festival, befitting the new city's appearance. Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Hong Bang ward) said that she hopes this year's festival will have a fresh look, rich content, create an atmosphere of excitement, strengthen confidence, and provide further motivation for people to work together to build a developing city.
Meeting the expectations of the people, this year, the 2026 Red Flamboyant Flower Festival continues to be organized on a grand scale with 24 city-level cultural, sports, and tourism activities, along with approximately 40 supporting activities in communes, wards, and special zones. The festival space is no longer confined but spreads widely, from the urban center to new areas, creating a vibrant and colorful cultural tapestry. From large-scale art programs and lively street activities to diverse culinary spaces and sports and community events, everything blends together into a brilliant "May symphony."
After 12 seasons of widespread popularity, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival has transcended the boundaries of an annual event to become a spiritual symbol of the port city. And in the glorious month of May 2026, when the flamboyant blossoms once again paint the sky red, the festival continues to ignite faith and aspirations - so that Hai Phong will not only be a gathering place but also shine brightly on its new journey of development.
HAI HAUSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/dau-an-le-hoi-hoa-phuong-do-540827.html
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