The Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival 2024 features 17 main events, notably the opening art show “The Legendary Train” that integrates various modern technologies.
The second annual Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival will take place from May 31 to June 9, 2024. It is a series of activities encompassing tourism, culture, entertainment, arts, sports, cuisine, and shopping, with the aim of becoming a branded event that positions Ho Chi Minh City as a culturally rich riverside metropolis.
17 main events and a variety of exciting programs
The festival includes 17 main events across various locations such as Nha Rong Wharf – Khanh Hoi Port, Bach Dang Wharf Park, the Saigon Riverfront Park, the Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal area, Vietnam Star Wharf (District 7), Bình Đông Wharf (District 8), Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Area, and other tourism sites in Thu Duc City and districts across Ho Chi Minh City.
The opening ceremony will take place at 8:00 PM on May 31 at Nha Rong Wharf – Khanh Hoi Port. This will be followed by a series of exciting activities, including water sports, exhibitions, parades, product displays, artistic decorations, promotional ticket discounts for art performances, and culinary contests, all related to the city’s rivers and waterways. These events will run continuously until June 9.
The vibrant “floating market” atmosphere of the Western Mekong Delta was recreated on the Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal from June 1 to June 9. This space offered a lively depiction of floating market activities associated with the Mekong Delta, where visitors could experience fruit shopping on the floating market and enjoy traditional folk performances.
The Fruit Week “On the Wharves, In the Boats” took place along the Bình Đông Wharf embankment in District 8 from June 4 to June 10. Here, fruit stalls from various Mekong Delta orchards were on display for visitors to buy, alongside folk art performances.
River parades were held on the nights of May 31 to June 2 and June 7 to June 9, from Saigon Port to Landmark 81. Water sports activities ran continuously throughout the festival.
The Ho Chi Minh City River Crossing Championship 2024 will be held on June 1 and 2 at Bạch Đằng Wharf. The First Ho Chi Minh City Open SUP Championship 2024 will take place on June 2 at the Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal. Additionally, water sports activities at Vietnam Star Wharf (District 7) will run continuously from June 3 to June 6, featuring demonstrations of sailing boats, jet skis, sailboats, SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding), and paragliding from June 7 to June 9.
Alongside these events, the river-themed culinary competition and outdoor art exhibitions will take place simultaneously at various locations, including tourist areas, districts, and Thu Duc City.
What’s special about the first-ever outdoor musical on the Saigon River?
The opening art program, “The Legendary Train”, which marks the beginning of the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival, will take place at 8 PM on May 31, 2024, at Nha Rong Wharf – Khanh Hoi Port. The event will be broadcast live on VTV1, VieON, and displayed on two large LED screens at the Thu Duc Riverside Park and Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
The highlight of the second Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival in 2024 is the special art performance “The River Tells a Story, Season 2 – The Legendary Train,” featuring over 1,000 performers and 9,000 live attendees. This is the first-ever outdoor musical to take place on the Saigon River, depicting historical stories through a fresh artistic language with many surprises.
“The River Tells a Story, Season 2 – The Legendary Train” will combine history, cinema, and entertainment to convey powerful messages from the nation’s glorious past. The audience will be taken on an emotional journey, filled with pride for the nation’s history, the wisdom and bravery of past generations, and the creativity and dynamism of today’s youth. The performance will include climactic moments, grand scenes, and deep emotional highlights that delve into the characters’ inner lives, focusing on significant historical events and legendary figures tied to special journeys by train.
The program will tell the story of historic trains that once traveled the Saigon River—ships tied to pivotal moments in Vietnam’s history. From the first Vietnamese vessels launched, to ships carrying the fate of the nation, epic naval battles on the river, and reunion voyages after decades of separation, to ships taking the Vietnamese brand across the world. This isn’t just about trains; it’s the journey of an entire nation, now part of history and legend.
With this production, the organizers aim to set a new trend combining education and entertainment (Edu-tainment), celebrating history and culture while fostering national pride, especially among the youth, through modern art forms.
Creativity and Modern Technology Integration
Behind the mesmerizing artistic program and its emotionally uplifting moments are the creative efforts of the “Four Pillars” of Vietnamese art and creativity: Chief Director Lê Hải Yến, Stage Director Phạm Hoàng Nam, Music Director Đức Trí, Chief Choreographer Tấn Lộc, and Designer Việt Hùng.
In addition, the art program benefits from the expertise of notable advisors and specialists, such as Mr. Phan Xuân Biên (former Head of the Ideology and Culture Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee), Historian Dương Trung Quốc, Dr. Trần Du Lịch, Associate Professor Dr. Huỳnh Quốc Thắng, People’s Artist Trần Văn Giàu, Dr. Nguyễn Thị Hậu, and Painter Hứa Thanh Bình.
The program doesn’t only feature the collaboration of these talented directors, musicians, and choreographers in their respective fields, but also incorporates advanced technologies, including cinematic effects, 3D mapping projections, water screens, moving stages on the water, drone performances, and fireworks displays. One standout feature is the constantly changing stage, which moves between land, water, and boats, creating unexpected artistic and technological elements. This promises to leave a lasting impression on audiences and visitors attending the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival 2024.
The event will welcome delegates, residents, and tourists at 8:00 PM on May 31 at Gate 157 Nguyễn Tất Thành, Ward 18, District 4.
The Second Ho Chi Minh City Water Festival 2024 is organized under the guidance of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, with the city’s Department of Tourism and Department of Culture and Sports working in collaboration with various other departments, districts, and Thu Duc City, along with supporting partners.
