Carnival parade lights up Vietnam's Nha Trang, captivates foreign visitors

Held as part of the Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026, the parade, themed 'Symphony of the Blue Sea – Convergence of Colors,' brought together more than 1,200 performers, including artists, singers, dancers, local and international beauty queens and runners-up, professional models, community participants, and international art troupes.

A prominent part of the event was the 10 themed floats representing localities and organizations across Khanh Hoa. 

Sea breezes, upbeat music, and elaborately costumed dancers transformed the streets into a vibrant open-air celebration.

For more than 90 minutes, local residents and visitors immersed themselves in the festivities, with performers staging carnival dances and dressing as mermaids, marine creatures, fishermen, swiftlets and Cham and Raglai ethnic people, Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reported.

The parade also featured school and university students representing more than 30 ethnic groups in Khanh Hoa.

In addition, the procession included dozens of vintage cars, large-displacement motorcycles, and LED roller skaters, creating a lively festival scene along the shores of Nha Trang Bay.

Both sides of Tran Phu Street were packed with local residents as well as domestic and international tourists eager to watch the parade, according to news site Vietnamnet.

Many spectators sat on the ground to secure a good viewing spot before the performances began.

Throughout the parade route, performers mingled with spectators, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Many foreign visitors took photos and recorded videos to capture memorable moments during the colorful parade, according to VOV.

Tran Bich Lien, a domestic visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said she was thrilled by the festive atmosphere.

"This is the first time I have had the chance to watch such spectacular street performances, and I was truly impressed by the performers and dancers in their magnificent costumes," Lien said.

"The lighting effects on the parade floats also made Nha Trang's streets look even more dazzling at night."

The parade was one of the highlights of the three-day Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026, which opened in Nha Trang on Friday.

More than 40 cultural, artistic, sporting and tourism events are being held as part of the festival, which is expected to attract between 600,000 and 800,000 domestic and international visitors.

Khanh Hoa aims to welcome 18.8 million visitors this year, up 14.6 percent from a year earlier, including 6.3 million international arrivals, up 14.5 percent year on year, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.