The two events are being organised by the People’s Committee of Bong Son Ward, with the ornamental festival running from August 12 to 26 and the half marathon taking place on August 16.
The first Bong Son Ornamental Creatures Festival 2026 is being held at the ward’s square, featuring around 400 ornamental trees, stones and driftwood artworks. The exhibition includes 300 medium and small pieces and 100 large-scale works.
Organisers say the festival is designed as a meeting place for gardeners and artisans to exchange techniques and experience, while giving visitors an opportunity to explore the artistic value and craftsmanship behind the exhibits.
Nearly 140 booths selling commercial goods, OCOP products and local specialties have also been arranged as part of the festival, creating additional opportunities for visitors to browse and shop.
Nurseries, equipment and materials suppliers, and ornamental-creature businesses are also displaying products including ornamental plants, bonsai and orchids.
With hundreds of exhibits and a broad range of booths, organisers expect the festival to provide a networking platform for gardeners, artisans, enthusiasts, producers and businesses. The event is also intended to promote local products and introduce Bong Son to residents and visitors.
Preparations for safety and services
The People’s Committee of Bong Son Ward has held coordination meetings covering communications, mobilisation of social resources and the allocation of responsibilities among teams involved in the festival.
Preparations have included reviews of the venue, booths, stage, electricity and water systems, landscape decoration and publicity, as well as arrangements for security, fire prevention, environmental sanitation and medical services.
Alongside the festival, the ward is preparing for the first Bong Son Half Marathon 2026, which will start from Bong Son Square on August 16.
More than 500 athletes have registered for the event, which features 5 km, 10 km and 21 km distances. The three races are scheduled to start at 4:30 a.m., 5:10 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., respectively.
The event will mark the first time Bong Son has organised a 21 km race to half-marathon standards. A chip timing system will be used to record results, with electronic certificates issued to athletes who complete the course.
Local authorities see the race as a foundation for developing larger and more professionally organised running events in Bong Son in the future.
Route highlights local scenery
Preparations for the race have included testing the route. In June, athletes from Bong Son Ward and the Quy Nhon Morning Run Club took part in a trial run to inspect individual sections of the course.
The test was intended to assess the route, organisational arrangements, safety conditions and the overall experience expected for participants.
Nguyen Thanh Phuong, a representative of the event’s advisory and technical operations unit, said the team had thoroughly surveyed the course, which passes through rice fields, the Lai Giang dam, Bong Son Bridge and roads associated with the local landscape.
Phuong said the route combines the technical requirements of a half marathon with distinctive local scenery, giving runners opportunities to experience Bong Son’s landscape while competing.
Organisers hope those features will provide athletes with memorable experiences during the inaugural race.
Nguyen Dinh Chien, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bong Son Ward, said the events provide an opportunity to introduce the locality’s distinctive characteristics to residents and visitors.
In the longer term, the ward aims to establish and maintain cultural and sporting activities closely associated with Bong Son, while connecting them with destinations across the locality.
Authorities also hope the events will broaden experiences for residents and tourists, create opportunities for commercial and service development, and promote Bong Son as a friendly destination with a rich cultural tradition.
The opening ceremony of the first Bồng SơnOrnamental Creatures Festival 2026 will take place on the evening of August 15 at Bồng Sơn Square, featuring music, performances, and a charity auction.
On the morning of August 15, a parade of vehicles will pass through seven wards in the Hoài Nhơn area, helping to create a lively atmosphere ahead of the festival, bringing the event closer to the public, and promoting the unique culture, people, and development potential of Bồng Sơn to residents and visitors alike.
