The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council; and Vu Hong Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; along with leaders of ministries and central agencies, delegations from Laos and Guangxi (China), and leaders of Quang Ninh Province.

The performance at the opening ceremony of Carnaval Ha Long 2025.

Carnaval 2025 featured three main parts that introduced the cultural essence of Quang Ninh to locals and tourists such as: “Ha Long – radiant heritage and wonder”, “Quang Ninh – heritage within heritage”, and “global integration – pioneering to shine”.

For the first time, the carnival became a convergence point for intangible cultural heritages from across Vietnam, such as Then singing from Binh Lieu, Hue royal court music, Central Highlands gongs, and Southern amateur music (Don ca tai tu). These elements were reimagined through modern, dynamic, and accessible artistic interpretations.

One of the event’s standout moments was the grand parade of model cars, combined with art performances and vibrant Carnaval-style costumes.

A large-scale DJ performance drew crowds into a lively electronic music party, while a high-altitude fireworks display offered an unforgettable experience for spectators.

With its theme “Connecting Heritage – Pioneering to Shine”, Ha Long Carnaval 2025 underscored Quang Ninh’s ambition to position itself as a premier tourism destination, an epicentre where Vietnamese and global heritage converge.

The vision is for Ha Long to emerge as a dazzling cultural and festival hub, propelling Quang Ninh into a new era of development.

The festival also embraced cutting-edge technology. Performances and scenes were enhanced by contemporary art forms, 3D mapping, laser displays, and state-of-the-art lighting effects.

Ten high-powered projectors from the US and Belgium were used to create vivid visual backdrops. The stage itself featured rock mountain models designed for 3D projection mapping.

Launched since 2007, Ha Long Carnaval has become an annual highlight and a signature cultural-tourism brand of both Ha Long City and Quang Ninh Province.

In 2025, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 20 million tourists, including approximately 4.5 million international visitors. Tourism stimulus programmes such as Ha Long Carnaval are expected to help the province realise this ambitious target.

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