The two-day festival will feature a series of cultural, culinary and sporting activities stretching from Nhon Ly to Nhon Hai fishing villages as part of the National Tourism Year– Gia Lai 2026.
Organizers said the event will focus on authentic coastal life rather than staged performances, highlighting traditional rituals, folk arts, community games, local cuisine and regional products closely tied to fishermen’s daily lives.
The opening ceremony on the evening of May 29 at the Nhon Ly Cultural and Sports Center is expected to be the festival’s centerpiece. The program, titled “Quy Nhon Dong – Colors of the Sea Calling,” will include artistic performances, folk dance exchanges and DJ music for residents and visitors.
Choreographer and program director Hoang Viet said the production aims to bring the atmosphere of coastal life to the stage through local cultural traditions.
“Incorporating the sword dance of Nhon Hai and the ba trao ritual of Nhon Ly into the opening ceremony is our way of telling the story of heritage through contemporary stage language, allowing visitors to better appreciate the unique identity of this coastal region,” he said.
The sword dance, a traditional performance from Nhon Hai fishing village, reflects the martial spirit and energetic rhythm of coastal communities.
“The sword dance is not just a performance - it is a source of pride for the people of Nhon Hai,” said Nguyen Van Tinh, a member of the Nhon Hai sword dance troupe. “We want to introduce this cultural heritage passed down from our ancestors to visitors.”
The ba trao ritual art from the Xuong Ly fishing community in Nhon Ly village will also feature prominently during the opening night with traditional singing performances.
“We hope that when visitors come to Nhon Ly, they not only admire the beautiful sea but also experience the cultural life of fishermen through the ba trao singing and dancing on stage,” said Nguyen Dinh Sang, a member of the Xuong Ly ba trao troupe.
Alongside traditional performances, the festival will host a culinary exhibition and OCOP product showcase under the theme “Quy Nhon Dong – Colors of Cuisine.”
Mai Thi Huong, director of Huong Thanh Seafood Production and Business Cooperative in Nhon Ly, said the cooperative plans to present six OCOP products, including sun-dried squid, anchovy fish sauce, shrimp paste, dried shrimp, dried anchovies and crispy dried seaweed. Visitors will also be invited to sample newly developed dishes.
Local tourism operators said the festival would create opportunities for stronger cooperation between residents and businesses in developing experiential tourism linked to coastal village culture.
Hotels, restaurants and sea tour providers have upgraded facilities, prepared staff and publicly listed service prices ahead of the event.
Nguyen Huu Dao, director of Khanh An Community Services JSC, said he hopes the festival will encourage the development of community-based tourism products that reflect the distinctive identity of Quy Nhon Dong rather than relying solely on coastal scenery.
The event will also include the “East Quy Nhon - Colors of Vietnamese Kites” festival at Nhon Hai beach, featuring artistic kite displays, illuminated kites and kite-making workshops for students.
Meanwhile, the “Thi Nai Joyful Boats” exchange program will feature dragon boat races, tug-of-war contests and traditional folk games designed to recreate the spirit of solidarity among coastal communities.
Tran Viet Quang, chairman of the People’s Committee of Quy Nhon Dong Ward, said the festival aims to promote the image of a region known for its cultural identity, hospitality and maritime traditions while supporting socio-economic development.
Amid the rapid growth of marine tourism in Gia Lai Province, organizers say the festival is intended not only as a summer celebration but also as an effort to preserve and promote coastal cultural heritage through authentic local experiences.
Visitors, they said, are expected to leave with lasting memories of ba trao singing, the rhythms of the sword dance and the vibrant cultural life of the region’s fishing communities.