In Hoai Nhon in central Vietnam, known as a famous producer of coconuts, the first "Coconut and Sea Festival (Le hoi Dua va Bien Hoai Nhon)" will be held over 12 days,from June 17 to 28, 2026.A major Vietnamese media outletVietnamNetreported it as one of the summer 2026 events in the new Gia Lai Province. This seaside town, corresponding to the former Binh Dinh Province, will draw tourists with a festival foregrounding coconut culture.
A 12-day seaside festival timed to the Doan Ngo Festival
The period overlaps with Vietnam's Doan Ngo Festival (Tet Doan Ngo / the 5th day of the 5th lunar month). It's a case of layering a festival celebrating the connection with the sea onto an important observance when locals make offerings to their ancestors. The venue spreads from Lang Bung Beach in the Tam Quan Bac area to the town's central park.
A program full of coconuts lines up, including a carnival parade decorated with coconut flowers, Binh Dinh martial arts demonstrations, a coconut cooking contest, and an all-you-can-eat coconut buffet free for anyone to taste. The OCOP product exhibition gathering local specialties is set to have nearly 100 booths.
The coconut homeland that became "central Gia Lai"
Hoai Nhon is a region that came to belong to the new Gia Lai Province as a result of the June 2025 provincial restructuring, when the former Binh Dinh Province was merged with Gia Lai Province. It's a seaside town 80 to 90 km north of Quy Nhon City, one that has not been much spoken of as a tourist destination until now. This festival aims to present that place name as "a friendly destination with a cultural personality."
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 17 to 28, 2026 (12 days) |
| Location | Hoai Nhon (new Gia Lai Province / former Binh Dinh Province) |
| Main venue | Lang Bung Beach, Tam Quan Bac area |
| Admission | Free |
Worth combining with a Quy Nhon trip
Quy Nhon is a central city to watch, also chosen for Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2026." The Hoai Nhon festival, within reach from there, suits travelers who want to step off the standard route and touch the true face of the central region. Since lodging concentrates in central Bong Son and around Tam Quan Bac Beach, booking early in anticipation of the 12-day crowds is reassuring.
A summer festival chosen for its substance rather than its place name
Even if the place name changed with the provincial restructuring, the core of the land, coconuts and the sea, hasn't changed. The sense of scale, given it's a first-time event, is yet to firm up, but a chance to immerse yourself fully in coconut culture for free is valuable. On the central coast, do try savoring the summer of a little-known town.
Related reading:
・Quy Nhon named among Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2026” 25 destinations worldwide
・The Mekong's fruit paradise "Dong Thap Fruit Fest" draws 500,000 at its first edition: the peak of fruit picking in June
・Quang Tri Province's "golden triangle": a new coastal resort selling coral diving off Con Co Island
Source:VietnamNet
