1. What is the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival? What makes it so special
The Red Flamboyant Festival is an occasion to promote the cultural and spiritual values of Hai Phong. (Source: Collected)
Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival not only impresses with the brilliant beauty of the symbolic flower, but also emphasizes the unique cultural values that the Port City wishes to convey. This is a prominent cultural and tourism event, held annually to honor the red flamboyant flower – a symbol associated with the image of Hai Phong, while promoting the city globally. In 2025, the festival marks its 12th consecutive year, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day (May 13, 1955 - May 13, 2025), demonstrating the spirit of solidarity and national pride.
The red flamboyant flower is closely associated with the lives of Hai Phong's people, becoming a symbol of a vibrant summer and a unique local cultural feature. In May, streets are dyed red by the flamboyant flowers, creating a lively and brilliant atmosphere. The festival is an occasion to honor and introduce this flower as an important part of Hai Phong's distinctive culture.
In 2025, the festival is organized on the largest scale ever, with the theme: "Hai Phong – 70 Years of Faith and Aspiration for Development". The event includes 111 activities lasting from late April to early June, with a total budget of over 90 billion VND, funded by state budget and socialized sources. A prominent highlight is the art night at the Central Political – Administrative Square, gathering 13,000 delegates and the ceremony to receive the title "Heroic City".
Notably, for the first time, the festival applies modern performance technologies such as 3D Mapping, Laser Mapping, along with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, creating a unique artistic experience. The event also features top Vietnamese artists, Miss Hai Phong, students who have won international awards, international art troupes, and foreign businesses, affirming the stature and special appeal of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival .
2. Time and Location of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival
The red flamboyant flower has become a cultural symbol throughout the festival activities of Hai Phong. (Source: Collected)
Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival is a unique cultural-tourism event, held annually from late April to early June, attracting a large number of tourists and locals. Centered at the City Theater Square and various auxiliary locations, the festival offers a solemn atmosphere, vibrant artistic activities, and characteristic culinary experiences of Hai Phong.
2.1 Schedule of the main event and supporting activities
Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival is held from late April to early June, offering diverse activities for visitors. The opening ceremony begins on May 11th at the City Theater Square with a parade and mass procession. Also on this day, 12 key projects will be commenced and inaugurated at 3 PM, marking a new development for the city.
May 13th is the main festival day with many important events. In the morning, a incense offering ceremony to commemorate heroes and martyrs will take place, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. In the evening of the same day, the commemoration program combined with the opening night promises an unforgettable experience for visitors.
Additionally, the International Art Festival is held from April 30th to June 1st at the City Theater Square, gathering outstanding performances from domestic and international art troupes. The Hai Phong Culinary Festival is organized from May 10th to May 12th at the Hai Phong Station area and flower gardens, offering a great opportunity to explore the diverse and characteristic local cuisine.
2.2 Venues for the main events in Hai Phong
The festival center is the Political-Administrative Center Square, located in the New Urban Area North of Cam River, Thuy Nguyen City. This is where the opening ceremony takes place, capable of accommodating 13,000 delegates and tens of thousands of attendees. The square is modernly designed, suitable for large-scale activities, and supports 3D Mapping and Laser Mapping technology performances.
The City Theater Square is another key venue, hosting parades and outdoor activities, with a convenient location for easy visitor access. The theater also hosts many high-quality art programs throughout the festival season.
An Bien Lake (Ngo Quyen District) is one of six simultaneous fireworks display locations on the evening of May 13th, offering an ideal space to admire the shimmering low-altitude fireworks. Additionally, the city center areas, districts, communes, and Thuy Nguyen City all organize various supporting activities, expanding the festival atmosphere throughout the city.
3. The most outstanding activities of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival season
The festival space reflects the pride and distinctive imprint of the Port City. (Source: Collected)
The Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival season always makes a strong impression with a series of large-scale activities, harmoniously combining art, technology, and cultural-tourism experiences. This is an opportunity for the Port City to showcase its modern vitality, spirit of solidarity, and unique identity through special programs, attracting a large number of people and tourists.
3.1 Grand Art and Parade Program
The opening night of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival 2025 with the theme “Hai Phong – 70 Years of Faith and Aspiration to Rise” took place on the evening of May 13, promising to bring emotionally rich artistic experiences. The parade program lasted 30 minutes, consisting of 36 units representing armed forces, resident communities, and businesses, demonstrating the city's spirit of solidarity and prosperous development. Famous domestic artists and talents from the homeland presented special, culturally rich performances, enlivening the festival space.
The mass parade troop review activity took place for the first time on May 11, with the participation of 32–36 representative units. This is an opportunity for the community to express their love for their homeland and national pride. The art programs were organized professionally, creatively combining performance formats, bringing a completely new experience to the audience.
3.2 Application of Modern Technology for the First Time at the Festival
This year's festival is the first to apply comprehensive 3D Mapping and Laser Mapping technology on stage. The modern sound and lighting system combined with special effects transform every space into a vibrant work of art. The multi-dimensional light show synchronized with the background music creates a unique experience, captivating all senses.
The highlight of the festival is the simultaneous fireworks display at six locations on the evening of May 13, including: Political – Administrative Center Square (Thuy Nguyen), City Theater, An Bien Lake (Ngo Quyen), Duong Kinh District Administrative Center, Vu Yen Island Amusement Park, and Tien Lang District Stadium. Each location is equipped with a 100 m² LED screen for live broadcast, allowing all residents and tourists to fully enjoy the performance.
3.3 Series of Experience, Exchange, and Tourism Activities
The international art festival with the participation of delegations such as Nanning (Guangxi) takes place at the City Theater Square, running from April 30 to June 1. The outdoor performances offer opportunities for international cultural exchange, enriching the festival's identity.
The Hai Phong Cuisine Festival takes place from May 10–12 at Hai Phong Station, allowing visitors to enjoy local specialties. Concurrently, the 'Red Flamboyant' train activity with 20 carriages running on the Hanoi – Hai Phong route opens up new development directions for the city's tourism, making Hai Phong Station an official tourist destination.
The participation of beauty queens from Hai Phong, students with international achievements, art troupes, and foreign businesses creates a dynamic exchange atmosphere, elevating the festival into an international event. Thereby, the festival not only promotes Vietnamese culture but also embraces the essence of world culture, making the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant 2025 a distinctive and attractive tourist highlight.
4. Development History and Themes Over the Years of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival
The Red Flamboyant Flower has become a spiritual symbol associated with the pride of Hai Phong. (Source: Collected)
The Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival has been held for 12 consecutive times, marking a process of sustainable development and continuous creativity. Each year, the organizing committee focuses on expanding the scale and refreshing the program script, aiming to honor the unique cultural features of the Port City. The annual maintenance of the festival demonstrates the determination to build Hai Phong's cultural brand while also promoting the city's image nationally and internationally.
2025 is a special milestone with the largest scale ever, simultaneously marking the launch of 12 outstanding innovations in festival activities. The event is associated with the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong's Liberation Day, both commemorating historical traditions and expressing aspirations for development, looking towards a prosperous future. Over the years, the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival has become a distinctive cultural symbol, contributing to affirming the unique identity of the Port City on Vietnam's tourism map and attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.
5. The great role and significance of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival for the city
Festival activities clearly reflect the cultural life of the city's residents. (Source: Collection)
The Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival plays an important role in promoting the image of the Port City nationwide and internationally. Thanks to rich experiential activities, the festival not only enhances cultural values but also promotes the local tourism industry, creating unique and attractive tourism products. The groundbreaking of key projects and the operation of the "Hoa Phuong Do" train within the framework of the festival also contribute to upgrading tourism infrastructure and services, providing a better experience for tourists.
Besides, the festival is also an occasion to affirm the unique cultural identity of Hai Phong, while introducing the city's modern, dynamic, and internationally integrated appearance. The harmonious combination of traditional values and modern elements, between national and international culture, creates a unique attraction, turning the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival into a special cultural-tourism event, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
6. Suggested Itinerary for a Complete Experience of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival Season
To not miss the important highlights of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival season, tourists should plan a reasonable sightseeing itinerary according to specific time points. A scientific experience plan will help you immerse yourself in the vibrant festival atmosphere while fully exploring the unique culture, cuisine, and scenery of the Port City.
The Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival season takes place from late April to early June, which is an ideal time for tourists to plan their visits and experiences. From May 10th to 12th, the culinary festival at Hai Phong Station offers an opportunity to enjoy attractive local specialties, helping to fully explore the culinary culture of the Port City. On May 11th, tourists should not miss the chance to participate in the public parade at Theater Square and witness the groundbreaking ceremony of key projects, contributing to feeling the vibrant pulse of the festival.
The peak of the festival is on May 13th, with a series of activities from morning to night. Tourists can attend the solemn anniversary ceremony, enjoy a special art night, and admire sparkling fireworks at six different firing points across the city. Additionally, a tour of Hai Phong Station combined with an experience on the "Hoa Phuong Do" train will provide a unique and unforgettable travel experience.
Enjoy the full beautiful scenery from the Sun World cable car. (Source: Collected)
If you have time, tourists can extend their trip to Cat Ba Island via the modern Sun World cable car system. Convenient travel from the mainland to the island helps to enjoy the vibrant festival atmosphere while admiring the majestic natural beauty of Ha Long Bay, creating a complete journey combining culture and resort tourism.
7. Experience participating in the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival
Events are a bridge to promote the dynamic spirit of the Port City. (Source: Collection)
To fully immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival, visitors need to prepare thoroughly from attire, transportation to the timing of main activities. The practical experiences below will help you enjoy the festival comfortably, safely, and capture many memorable moments.
To fully experience the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival, choosing appropriate attire is very important. The weather in May in Hai Phong is usually hot and sunny, so visitors should prioritize cool, lightweight clothing and bright colors that match the vibrant atmosphere of the festival. Sneakers or walking shoes are ideal choices for outdoor activities and moving between parade venues.
For convenient travel to main points such as the Central Political - Administrative Square and the City Theater, visitors should plan early. Public transport, taxis, or private cars can be used, but time should be allocated to avoid traffic jams. At the same time, pay attention to protecting personal belongings amidst a large number of delegates and attendees.
For those who want a good vantage point to watch fireworks and enjoy the art program, it is advisable to arrive early at locations with live LED screens. On the evening of May 13, the Central Political - Administrative Square is the ideal spot for photos with fireworks effects and vibrant 3D Mapping displays. Additionally, evenings from April 30 to June 1 at the City Theater Square also offer many opportunities to capture beautiful moments. If you want to experience low-altitude fireworks and a more intimate setting, An Bien Lake is the perfect choice.
Attending the Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival will offer visitors a vibrant and colorful experience in the heart of the port city. With many unique cultural, artistic, and festival activities, this is definitely a must-visit destination. Plan your participation to fully experience the brilliant atmosphere of the red flamboyant flower season in Hai Phong.
