The event was attended by central and provincial officials, tourism representatives, business leaders, cultural associations and a large public audience. Representing the central government was Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, said the festival’s theme, “Gia Lai – Mountains embrace the blue sea”, reflects the province’s ambition to connect diverse cultural and natural values while creating new momentum for tourism development.
She said the province hopes visitors will not only admire its landscapes but also experience the depth of its culture, the hospitality of its people and the spirit of renewal driving local development.
According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, the festival serves as both a welcome to domestic and international visitors and an invitation for investors and businesses to explore new opportunities for cooperation and growth. She said the province aims to strengthen Gia Lai’s position as an attractive, friendly destination with a distinctive identity on Vietnam’s tourism map.
The programme highlighted Gia Lai’s evolving tourism landscape, linking the highlands of Pleiku with the coastal attractions of Quy Nhon and presenting a blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage and local traditions.
The opening performances featured a mix of traditional and contemporary works, including “Ngẫu hứng bài chòi,” “Em trong mắt tôi,” “Mùa hè tuyệt vời,” “Vũ điệu cồng chiêng,” “Phép màu,” “Hẹn lần sau,” “Tên tôi Việt Nam,” and “Quy Nhơn, Gia Lai – A landscape painting.” Artists participating in the programme included Hong Gam, Felix Tien Quang, Liz Nguy Thuy Linh, Nguyen Hung and other performers.
Through creative staging that combined modern music with traditional art forms, the performances showcased cultural characteristics associated with both the sea and the highlands, offering audiences an immersive tourism and cultural experience.
The festival reached its peak during the second segment, “Chill with Your Idols,” which began at 9:20 p.m. and featured several popular young performers.
Songs such as “Phơi cháy máy,” “Nước hoa,” “Đường vào tim em,” “Tỏa sáng những vì sao,” “Lời đường mật” and “24h” energized the crowd through performances by Kay Trần, LyLy and Liz Ngụy Thùy Linh.
Double2T also drew strong audience reactions with performances of “Thanh âm miền núi,” “Người miền núi chất” and “À lôi”, bringing the sounds and spirit of Vietnam’s highlands to the festival stage.
The participation of well-known singers quickly attracted significant public attention and helped create a lively atmosphere throughout the evening.
Nguyen Ngo Trung Son, a 16-year-old resident of South Quy Nhon Ward, said he and his friends arrived early to attend the programme because of the strong lineup of artists.
“I was really looking forward to the programme because there are so many famous singers that young people love, especially Nguyen Hung and Double2T,” he said. “I believe the concert will be very exciting and help promote Gia Lai’s image to more visitors.”
Infused with the spirit of the Northwest highlands, songs like “Thanh âm miền núi”, “Người miền núi chất”, and “À lôi” performed by Double2T electrified the stage, taking the audience from the vast highlands to the vibrant rhythms of the coast.
