Vietnam’s Can Tho to stage fireworks, drone show for River Culture Festival

The municipal administration on Tuesday announced that vice-chairwoman Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep had approved a low-altitude fireworks display funded through private sources to mark the festival.

The Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 will take place from December 27, 2025 to January 1, 2026, mainly in Ninh Kieu Ward, Cai Khe Ward, and surrounding areas.

On the opening night on Saturday, the city will organize a combined drone light show and fireworks display.

The drone performance is designed to recreate images reflecting Can Tho’s cultural identity, traditional entertainment, iconic architecture, and heritage, while also presenting the city’s long-term vision and development orientation.

In addition to the opening ceremony, the festival will feature a wide range of cultural and recreational activities.

Highlights include the exhibition ‘Life on the River - The Mekong Delta Past and Present’ and street acoustic music performances, both held at Ninh Kieu Wharf.

A floating lantern release will also be organized in the Cai Khe canal area.

Sports and experiential activities will play a major role in the festival program. These include sailing boat races on the Hau River, flyboard performances, the 2025 Can Tho Open Composite Boat Racing Championship, a parade, and an open stand-up paddleboard race.

Tourism promotion is another key focus.

Can Tho will roll out a waterway tourism stimulus program, including commissioned river cruise tours for delegates, invited guests, and famtrip groups.

These tours will offer experiences such as visiting Cai Rang Floating Market and sunset check-ins at the Can Tho Bridge.

The festival will also feature exhibition spaces showcasing OCOP products, local tourism offerings, and live culinary demonstrations by provinces and cities across the Mekong Delta, aiming to promote regional specialties and strengthen tourism linkages.