To celebrate major holidays in April and May, particularly the 71st anniversary of the Liberation Day of Hai Phong (May 13, 1955 – May 13, 2026), the Hai Phong City People's Committee issued Plan No. 105/KH-UBND outlining a large-scale series of activities. Within this framework, foreign affairs and international integration are identified as one of the focal points to promote the image of a dynamic and modern Port City to international friends.
Elevating International Status Through Key Art Programs.
The most significant highlight of the series is the opening ceremony of the 2026 Red Flamboyant Festival – Hai Phong themed "Hai Phong – Convergence – Radiance," scheduled for the evening of May 8, 2026, at the City Political-Administrative Center Square. The city has set very high requirements for the program's content, which must possess a high international character commensurate with Hai Phong's status and stature after more than seven decades of construction and development.
The event is expected to attract not only domestic residents but also many international guests. The planned guest list includes embassies, diplomatic agencies, international associations and organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international volunteers, and especially prominent overseas Vietnamese from Hai Phong. The presence of high-level delegations from foreign localities that have cooperative or sister-city relationships with Hai Phong affirms the city's strong bonds of friendship and its efforts to expand its global partner network.
The Department of Foreign Affairs: The Core Agency Connecting International Resources.
In the master plan, the Department of Foreign Affairs is assigned the leading role in implementing festival-related activities according to a specialized program. This unit serves as the core for connecting, inviting, and organizing the attentive reception of international delegations, covering everything from accommodation and transportation to actual site visits and surveys in the city.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is also responsible for compiling the list of international delegates and coordinating with relevant departments to ensure that foreign affairs activities are carried out professionally and effectively. Additionally, the Department coordinates with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to invite and arrange for foreign art troupes to perform, creating a diverse cultural exchange space for the Festival.
A Vibrant Series of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy Events.
Alongside the opening ceremony, the city will organize a series of practical cultural diplomacy activities throughout May 2026. The Department of Foreign Affairs will lead the coordination with international partners to implement programs for friendship exchanges, music bridges, and art performances.
Highlight activities include a photo exhibition of localities around the world, showcasing images of cities and territories that have cooperative and investment ties with Hai Phong, scheduled to take place at the City Central Strip from May 9 to 11, 2026. There will also be an exhibition of history through archival records themed “Hai Phong in the Flow of History,” which will use precious materials to introduce the city's development process to foreign tourists. Furthermore, tourism promotion cooperation will be enhanced by coordinating with the Tourism Association to increase publicity, attract international visitors, and mobilize socialized funding for international tourism activities.
Promoting Communication and Branding on Foreign Affairs Channels.
Foreign information work is specially emphasized by the city to make the image of Hai Phong "shine" on the international stage. The city has tasked press agencies to coordinate closely with Vietnam Television and foreign information television channels to produce news stories and documentaries introducing Hai Phong's culture, people, and development potential in multiple languages.
The City e-Portal, particularly the city's multilingual Foreign Information Page (Haiphongnews), will regularly update sections introducing the Festival to ensure a continuous flow of information to international investors and friends. This effort aims to affirm Hai Phong as a leading city in the cause of industrialization and modernization and as a smart and sustainable urban area in the eyes of the world.
The series of events in April and May, along with the 2026 Red Flamboyant Festival, represents a golden opportunity for Hai Phong to affirm its position as one of the most dynamic foreign affairs centers in Vietnam. With thorough preparations for reception, profound international cultural exchange content, and a methodical foreign communication strategy, the Port City will surely leave a deep and positive impression on international friends, thereby creating momentum to attract investment and develop sustainable tourism in the future.