The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that this year's Ho Chi Minh City River Festival will take place from November 29 to the end of 2025. This is the third year Ho Chi Minh City has organized the River Festival.
This year's festival will take place in many locations, especially expanding to Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau after the merger. Specifically, activities will take place at locations associated with the sea, rivers, and canals such as Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi area, Bach Dang park, Saigon riverside park, Ngoi Sao Viet wharf, Binh Dong wharf, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, Binh Duong ward, Vung Tau ward and other tourist areas and destinations...
The highlight of the River Festival is the annual opening art program. This year, the program has the theme “Bridge across time”, continuing to be oriented as a special program, introduced as an artistic journey connecting the past - present - future of Ho Chi Minh City through a live musical and dance stage combining cinema, music , dance, circus, magic and modern performance technology with a science fiction theme.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, this special art program is not only a tribute to the 50th anniversary of National Reunification Day and the 80th anniversary of National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, but also an affirmation of Ho Chi Minh City's vision and aspiration for sustainable development in the new era.
In addition, throughout the festival is a series of unique cultural, artistic and sports activities, with highlights such as water sports, traditional boat racing, a culinary festival with a strong river flavor, a space "on the wharf and under the boat", a multi-sensory exhibition combined with creative miniature landscape decoration, along with many street art programs and vibrant carnival parades.
Last year, the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival attracted more than 4.5 million participants, with a total of 1.3 million visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, including 121,000 international visitors. Tourism revenue was estimated at VND4,250 billion. Travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and destinations all recorded increased revenue.
Not only is it economically effective, the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival also helps Ho Chi Minh City introduce and promote the image of a river city rich in identity and culture to residents and tourists.
The goals, organization methods and activities of the River Festival are all recognized and highly appreciated by international experts.
The 2024 Ho Chi Minh City River Festival has brought great pride to the City when it was simultaneously honored with 2 Gold Awards at the 22nd International Business Awards (IBA) in 2025. IBA is one of the most prestigious awards in the world under the American Stevie Awards system, considered the "Oscars for the economic field" by the New York Post .
Specifically, the Festival received the Gold Award in the Art, Entertainment & Public Festival category. The Opening Art Program “The Legendary Train” won the Gold Award in the Cultural Event category. This is a special milestone, making the festival one of the few events in Vietnam to achieve double international achievements.
The Ho Chi Minh City River Festival has received many compliments from the International Business Awards jury.
Experts highly appreciate both the strategic vision and the strong spreading effect: Ho Chi Minh City River Festival stands out as a pioneering model that harmoniously combines heritage, tourism and economic development. The impressive scale, inspiring storytelling and diverse activities have transformed the urban identity of Ho Chi Minh City into a leading cultural and commercial convergence point in the region.
By organizing a festival with diverse activities and being recognized by the international professional community, the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival not only affirms the strategic steps, professionalism and effectiveness in developing new tourism products of Ho Chi Minh City, but also contributes to enhancing the image of the City as a leading cultural tourism - festival destination in the region.
Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/le-hoi-song-nuoc-tp-hcm-khi-lich-su-van-hoa-thuong-mai-cua-do-thi-song-nuoc-cung-hoi-tu-va-toa-sang-1019848.html
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