When it comes to summer nights in Da Nang, the international fireworks festival lighting up the river has long been the star. But in late July 2026, a new sight joins that staple. Filling the night sea and sky are not fireworks but about 500 glowing kites. As the centerpiece of "Enjoy Danang 2026" (Lễ hội Tận hưởng Đà Nẵng 2026), the summer tourism event hosted by Da Nang City, it's the city's first attempt at a luminous-kite night show.
The starting point: a 'galaxy' floating on the night sea
According to local Vietnamese media, this glowing-kite program, named "Da tiec anh sang bien" (Feast of Sea Light), runs for three nights, July 24 to 26, from about 18:00 to 22:00, on the beach north of Bien Dong Park (Cong vien Bien Dong) along the coast in the city center. Lights are built into traditional kites made of eco-friendly materials and flown into the night sky all at once, a scene local media described as "like a shimmering Milky Way." Some 500 kites are used. Unlike the fleeting flourish of a limited burst of fireworks, light that drifts slowly across the sky over a long stretch quietly traces the outlines of sea and night.
Background: Da Nang's ever-growing summer and "Enjoy Danang"
Why Da Nang throws a new draw into this season is easy to see from the numbers. City tourism figures put first-half 2026 visitors at about 10 million, of whom roughly 5.2 million were international, up about 30% year on year. Summer is the peak for Da Nang tourism, and the city aims to build experiences that stretch length of stay and satisfaction rather than let the demand pass in one go. 'Enjoy Danang 2026' is the vessel for that strategy, bundling programs of differing character over its July 22–26 run—a seaside gourmet zone, an EDM stage on the water, and wellness offerings like meditation and a sunrise experience at Linh Ung Pagoda. Among them, the glowing kites are given a new role as the 'quiet star of the night' in place of fireworks.
There's a reason Da Nang is adding shows that don't rely on fireworks alone. Fireworks are spectacular, but they run for a limited time and draw viewers all at once, breeding congestion and competition for spots. A light show that unfolds slowly over several hours, like the glowing kites, spreads out arrival times and lets families and older visitors enjoy it at ease. Being able to use the seaside stage as one continuous experience—from daytime swimming to nighttime light—also meshes with the city's aim of extending how long people stay.
Data: dates, venue, and highlights at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| The overall event | Enjoy Danang 2026 (July 22 to 26) |
| The glowing-kite show | "Dạ tiệc ánh sáng biển," July 24–26 / around 18:00–22:00 |
| Venue | The north beach of Bien Dong Park (Cong vien Bien Dong), on the seafront in central Da Nang |
| Number of kites | About 500 (eco-friendly materials plus lighting) |
| Organizer | Da Nang City's tourism authorities (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism / Tourism Promotion Center) |
| Related offerings | A seaside food zone, an offshore EDM stage, and wellness like meditation and sunrise sessions |
The organizers and the local reception
On the aim of the whole run, Tan Van Vuong, a deputy head of Da Nang's tourism authority, says he wants to deliver a "memorable, emotionally moving experience" rooted in the region's cultural identity. The organizers' intent behind the glowing kites goes beyond mere photogenic staging. It's designed as a device to summon childhood memories-flying kites, time on the beach, family togetherness-and aims to be a place where visitors can layer on their own stories, the explanation goes. Around the venue, touches that appeal to senses beyond sight, like the aroma of roasted sweet potato and grilled corn, are laid on, so the setup raises "nostalgia" through light, smell and sound. Local media, too, praise the attempt as an experience that touches visitors' inner memories, unlike the flourish of fireworks.
One thing to note is that this is a separate event from the Vietnam-Japan cultural festival with Bon Odori dancing that has been held on Da Nang's shore.Bon Odori by the Da Nang seaside: fit the 50,000-strong Vietnam-Japan culture festival into your itineraryThe event covered in is a festival themed on Japanese culture, while this glowing-kite show is a new Vietnam-born production hosted by the city of Da Nang. Though both are 'seaside nights,' the content and dates differ, so don't mix them up when planning an itinerary.
Practical info for travelers: dates, access, and viewing tips
If you're after the glowing kites, first set your dates to the nights of July 24-26. The overall event opens on the 22nd, but note that the illuminated-kite program starts on the 24th. The hours are roughly 18:00 to 22:00, and the kite lights show best from around 19:00, when the sky sinks to indigo. Arriving in the 18:00 hour before sunset is ideal, so you can walk the seafront while it's still light and scope out a spot.
The venue, Bien Dong Park, sits along the coast in central Da Nang, a short walk, taxi or Grab ride from the hotels around My Khe Beach. It's easy to combine with city sightseeing, so a natural day flows from beach and strolling by day to the kite show at night. A light layer is comfortable in the sea-breeze hours, and if you'll sit on the sand to watch, a picnic mat or thick cloth makes it easier to settle in. Since the kites move slowly, aiming for long light trails and reflections on the water preserves the mood better than trying to catch a fireworks-style instant.
If you want to avoid the crowds, aiming for the first day, the 24th, over the final day, the 26th, is the safer bet. People tend to gather on weekends, so those who want to watch quietly are better suited to weekday sides or the times right after the start. Grab to the venue spikes in demand around the 10 p.m. close and gets hard to catch. For the way back, either walk along the coast toward the center a bit before the show ends, or choose a hotel within walking distance to make moving easier. If you're with small children, mind the charcoal at the stalls and the footing on the sand, and prepare familiar sandals and a portable light for peace of mind.
Nearby pleasures: charcoal grills at the night market and the morning beach
After gazing up at the kites, stroll over to the seaside food zone. Charcoal stalls selling roasted sweet potato and grilled corn line the venue, set up so you can enjoy a late-night bite while the afterglow of the lights lingers. Da Nang's sea isn't only for the night—at dawn it shows another face, with fishermen hauling nets on the beach. Enjoy the kites one evening, and the next morningHauling nets with fishermen on a dawn beach: the very first thing on a July morning in Da Nangexperience the beach morning we introduced there and you can savor the same sea by day and night. Those who miss the heat of fireworks canThe Da Nang fireworks final is July 11—how to pick a free "best seat in the city"It's also an option to stagger the dates and fit both into your itinerary. Da Nang's summer holds many faces through its light displays alone.
Summary
The glowing-kite show of "Enjoy Danang 2026" is Da Nang's first attempt to fly about 500 glowing kites over the beach at Bien Dong Park on the nights of July 24 to 26. Rather than the momentary force of launched fireworks, it competes on light spreading slowly over sea and sky and on the sentiment of overlaying childhood memories—a new form of the night. Just keep in mind that it's separate from the Vietnam-Japan cultural festival with Bon Odori, and string together arrival before sunset, the gourmet zone, and a beach walk the next morning to enjoy Da Nang's summer night in full.
