About 69 km south of central Da Nang, at Tam Thanh Beach, "Tam Thanh Sea Fest 2026 (Tam Thanh – Biển xanh vẫy gọi)" was held, and giant kites shaped like whales, sharks, and huge octopuses and squid swam above the blue sea (reported June 28, 2026, by Tuoi Tre). It ran for four days, from June 25 to 28. For residents and travelers who want to venture to a quiet seaside apart from crowded central Da Nang beaches, it adds one more candidate destination.
Kites of whales, sharks and a giant octopus swimming in the sky
The biggest draw this time was a demonstration of art kites shaped like sea creatures. The invited group was the Hoi An Kite Club. About ten members flew roughly 50 large kites shaped like whales, sharks, octopuses, and squid over the sea. The way the several-meter, three-dimensional kites moved as if swimming in the sea breeze looked, from the ground, like watching a real underwater scene, local media reported. Families and young people who had gathered for the sea festival pointed their smartphones up from the beach.
It's no accident that sea creatures were chosen as kite motifs. In the fishing villages of central Vietnam, the 'Ca Ong' belief, which enshrines the whale as fishermen's guardian deity, has long taken root. Gratitude for the sea's bounty, and coastal life itself, drawn in the sky. Tam Thanh's kites give visible form to this land's feelings toward the sea.
Where is Tam Thanh in the first place
Tam Thanh was a seaside settlement that formerly belonged to Tam Ky city in Quang Nam Province. With the administrative reorganization on July 1, 2025, Quang Nam Province was merged into Da Nang city, and it is nowQuang Phu ward, Da Nang City (Quảng Phú)has become part of it. Although it can now be called a “Da Nang beach,” its actual location is about 69 km south of central Da Nang. At about an hour and a half each way by car, its air is different from a bustling coastline like My Khe Beach.
What put Tam Thanh's name on the map was the 'mural village,' where Korean artists and local residents filled the fishing village's walls with paintings in 2016. This sea festival is held on the coast in the same area as that mural village. A location where you can enjoy a mural stroll and the sea festival together is handy as a day-trip detour. For scenes from past sea-festival openings,Article reporting the opening of the sea festival in the mural village of Tam Thanhintroduces them too.
Four days packed with more than kites
The sea festival isn't a kites-only event. During its run, several events proceed at once on Tam Thanh's beach and the seaside plaza. It's arranged as part of a regional summer program called "Quang Phu Summer Color 2026," with a lineup that lets you experience local food and life all at once.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Tam Thanh Sea Festival 2026 (Tam Thanh – Biển xanh vẫy gọi) |
| Dates | June 25–28, 2026 (four days) |
| Venue | Tam Thanh beach and seaside square, Quang Phu ward, Da Nang City |
| Kite demonstrations | A Hoi An kite club took part with about 10 members and roughly 50 large kites |
| Distance from central Da Nang | About 69 km south (about an hour and a half each way by car) |
| Main motifs | Sea creatures like whales, sharks, octopuses, and squid |
Besides the kite demonstrations, programs using both sea and river were lined up: a viewing-stone art exhibition themed on "the singing sea stones (Đá hát trùng khơi)," OCOP product and food booths gathering regional specialties, kayaking on the Truong Giang River (Trường Giang), a children's painting contest "Tam Thanh: Stories the Sea Tells," sand sculpture, a traditional chess tournament, an open-water swim, and more. Eat, play, and buy local products to take home. It's a place closer to the feel of travelers mixing into a regional summer festival than a tourist attraction.
How to get there from Da Nang and tips for getting around
The basic route to Tam Thanh is to head south from central Da Nang on National Highway 1A, pass through the old Tam Ky town, and turn toward the sea. Allowing about 69 km and around an hour and a half each way gives you room to spare. If moving on your own, a taxi or ride-hailing app is realistic; for a group, a charter car; and some travelers ride rental motorbikes. Public buses run toward Tam Ky too, but considering frequency and transfers, car travel with predictable timing suits a day trip better.
For touring, a comfortable flow is to walk the mural village in the morning and see the seaside kites and events in the evening when the sun softens. Kites look best when there's wind, so from daytime into dusk is the sweet spot. Central Vietnam's summer sun is strong, so a hat and water are essential. Other sights are also scattered in the same southerly direction from Da Nang, and this way of thinking about a trip that combines such hidden spotsArticle on Da Nang's new faceis also worth referencing alongside it.
A pick for those seeking an "uncrowded Da Nang"
My Khe Beach and Ba Na Hills are the go-tos for a Da Nang trip, but the more someone is a repeat visitor or resident, the more they look for a “sea with few people.” While Tam Thanh’s distance of an hour and a half each way from the center is a hurdle, that very distance guards its quiet. The kite sea festival is a limited-run event, but the mural village and the wide beach themselves can be enjoyed year-round, so visiting to coincide with the festival doubles the attractions.
Tam Thanh becoming part of 'Da Nang City' through the administrative reorganization quietly matters for travelers too, because you can now smoothly fit a coast that used to be in a different province into a Da Nang-based loop. A day at the classic beaches, a day at Tam Thanh to the south. Using two bases like this looks set to become one template for future Da Nang trips.
Frequently asked questions
When can I see the kites at the Tam Thanh sea festival
The 2026 Sea Fest ran for four days, from June 25 to 28. Kites fly well from windy daytime into dusk, so if you have time to spare, aiming for those hours is recommended. The kite demonstrations are a session-limited event, but the mural village and the beach itself can be visited year-round.
How long does it take from central Da Nang to Tam Thanh?
About 69 km south of central Da Nang, roughly an hour and a half each way by car. Head south on National Highway 1A and pass through the old Tam Ky town. For a day trip, car travel with predictable timing — a taxi, ride-hailing app, or charter car — is well suited.
Which administrative district does Tam Thanh belong to now?
In the administrative reorganization of July 1, 2025, Tam Thanh—once part of Tam Ky city in the former Quang Nam Province—was merged into Quang Phu ward (Quảng Phú) of Da Nang. It is now easier to fold into a Da Nang-based travel plan as "a seaside within Da Nang."
Sources
Tuổi Trẻ: Hàng chục con diều cá voi, cá mập khổng lồ ở biển Tam Thanh
Việt Nam News: Tam Thanh Sea Tourism Festival 2026 to open on June 25
VietnamPlus: Lễ hội “Tam Thanh – Biển xanh vẫy gọi” kích cầu du lịch phía Nam Đà Nẵng
