{"id":1797,"date":"2026-04-10T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/column\/hcmc-river-festival-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T20:01:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T11:01:22","slug":"hcm-river-festival","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/hcm-river-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"[Breaking] The 3rd Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2026 is under way on the Saigon River \u2014 a month-long floating cultural festival throughout April"},"content":{"rendered":"

In April 2026, the \u201cSaigon River,\u201d the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City\u2014Vietnam\u2019s largest economic hub\u2014became the stage for a month-long cultural celebration. The 3rd Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2026 runs from April 1 to 30, unfolding a varied program that blends culture, art, and sports, centered on the riverfront.<\/p>\n

Having drawn tens of thousands of visitors across its first two editions, the festival scales up further for its third run in 2026. It offers experiences unique to the Saigon River waterfront\u2014on-water events, fireworks, a carnival parade, immersive exhibitions, and more.<\/p>\n

Event overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Dates<\/td>\nApril 1\u2013April 30, 2026 (a full month)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Venue<\/td>\nThe Saigon River waterfront area (Ho Chi Minh City)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Organizer<\/td>\nHo Chi Minh City People\u2019s Committee and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Admission<\/td>\nThe main content is free (some paid areas)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Official information<\/td>\nvietnam.travel (official Vietnam tourism site)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Main program<\/h2>\n

A large-scale opening art performance<\/h3>\n

The festival opened with a large-scale art performance staged on the Saigon River. The production, fusing light and music on the water, spread across social media and drew visitors from within and beyond Ho Chi Minh City right from the start.<\/p>\n

Fireworks show<\/h3>\n

Fireworks launched over the Saigon River are a River Festival staple. The previous edition in 2024 reportedly drew more than 50,000 people along the riverbanks, and an even larger crowd is expected in 2026. Watching from riverside caf\u00e9s and restaurants is popular, so booking early is wise.<\/p>\n

Carnival parade<\/h3>\n

A carnival parade featuring ethnic costumes and traditional dance winds along the waterfront. Everything from southern Vietnam\u2019s rural culture to contemporary performances comes together in one place.<\/p>\n

Street performances<\/h3>\n

Street performances\u2014buskers, juggling, live music\u2014run throughout the festival. The stretch from evening into night is especially lively, serving as a gathering spot for local residents.<\/p>\n

Immersive exhibitions and hands-on areas<\/h3>\n

Immersive exhibitions on Vietnam\u2019s traditional culture, history, and industry are set up. There are also hands-on areas using VR technology, which have been well received by younger generations.<\/p>\n

The Saigon River and Ho Chi Minh City<\/h2>\n

The Saigon River is a 256 km river flowing along the eastern side of Ho Chi Minh City\u2014a historic waterway that once underpinned the prosperity of the old \u201cSaigon Port.\u201d Today it hosts numerous sightseeing cruises and restaurant boats, offering a waterside atmosphere quite different from the bustle of the city.<\/p>\n

In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has focused on developing the riverfront, with new caf\u00e9s, bars, and art spaces opening one after another. The River Festival is positioned as the culmination of this effort\u2014a symbolic event in the city\u2019s \u201criver-driven urban branding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reactions within Vietnam and among locals<\/h2>\n

For the people of Ho Chi Minh City, the River Festival has become one of the biggest highlights of April. Cruising along the river by motorbike while enjoying the fireworks is a distinctly local way to take it in, and each night huge numbers of photos and videos are posted on social media.<\/p>\n

Vietnamese media report that \u201cthe 3rd edition in 2026 is the largest ever,\u201d and the number of domestic travelers choosing Ho Chi Minh City as their destination is trending upward. It\u2019s a golden season for the tourism industry in southern Vietnam as well.<\/p>\n

A guide for Japanese travelers<\/h2>\n

Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Departure point<\/th>\nAirline (example)<\/th>\nFlight time<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Tokyo (Narita\/Haneda)<\/td>\nVietnam Airlines, ANA, and others<\/td>\nAbout 6\u20137 hours<\/td>\nDirect flights available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Osaka (Kansai)<\/td>\nVietjet, Vietnam Airlines, and others<\/td>\nAbout 5\u20136 hours<\/td>\nDirect flights available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nagoya, Fukuoka<\/td>\nVarious airlines<\/td>\nAbout 5\u20136 hours<\/td>\nDirect and connecting flights available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Grab taxis are convenient for getting around Ho Chi Minh City. From the airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) to the city center takes about 30\u201345 minutes, and roughly 200,000\u2013300,000 VND (about 1,200\u20131,800 yen) by Grab.<\/p>\n

Recommended spots along the river<\/h3>\n