1. Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival – the event to kick off a vibrant summer of the pearl island
1.1. When does the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival take place?
The vibrant atmosphere at the Central Bay on the opening day of the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival. (Source: Collected)
Taking place on June 6 and 7 at Con So Square and the Central Bay area, the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival is considered the opening event for the island's exciting summer tourist season. With a space directly facing the sea and a series of experiences lasting from morning to night, the festival quickly became a focal point attracting tourists in the early summer days.
More than just a cultural and tourism event, the festival also signifies the start of the island tourism season, creating a bustling and energetic atmosphere for the entire Central Bay area.
1.2. The festival's appeal to tens of thousands of tourists
From early morning on the opening day, the roads leading to the Central Bay were crowded with people flocking to attend. Approximately 30,000 tourists participated throughout the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival, making it one of the most crowded tourist events in the North during the summer of 2026.
A lively atmosphere was present everywhere, from the water square, the coastal streets, to the main stage area. Many families brought their young children to play, while groups of young people took the opportunity to check in at new iconic landmarks. Besides domestic tourists, the event also attracted a large number of international visitors with many positive feedbacks on the diversity and attractiveness of the experiential activities.
2. Special activities at the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival
2.1. Fish stocking ritual imbued with island identity
The ritual of releasing fish fry in the Central Bay carries the local island and sea cultural identity. (Source: Collected)
The most memorable moment of the opening ceremony was the ritual of releasing fish fry in the Central Bay. As the sunset began to cast a golden hue over the sea, small boats adorned with colorful flags slowly parted the waves and sailed towards the middle of the bay, carrying thousands of fry to replenish fishery resources.
This is a familiar custom for Cat Ba fishermen at the beginning of each fishing season, expressing wishes for favorable seas, abundant catches, and prosperous lives. Incorporating this ritual into the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival not only honors local culture but also conveys a message about sustainable tourism development linked to marine environmental protection.
2.2. Artistic Parades and Street Performances
Immediately after the traditional ceremony, the festival atmosphere was quickly enlivened by spectacular artistic parades. Artists and dancers in vibrant mermaid costumes appeared on the central streets, bringing a lively and colorful atmosphere.
Music played continuously, drawing enthusiastic participation from many tourists. Beyond just watching, many people interacted with the artists, creating a bustling scene that lasted throughout the afternoon. The street activities contributed to transforming the entire square and coastal area into a giant open-air stage.
3. Entertainment Highlights at the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival
3.1. Pearl Stage and Emotionally Charged Music Night
Numerous tourists participate in the Blue Sea Cat Ba Festival at the Central Bay in the summer of 2026. (Source: Collected)
As night falls, all attention is focused on the Ngoc Trai stage, where the most vibrant music programs of the Blue Sea Cat Ba Festival take place. Artists bring a series of captivating DJ shows with energetic pop, hip hop, and electro house melodies. Thousands of spectators immerse themselves in the music in the open space by the sea, creating a fiery festival atmosphere. Stage lighting, visual effects, and continuous cheers make this place the emotional highlight of the entire event.
3.2. Artistic fireworks light up the Central Bay
One of the most anticipated moments at the Blue Sea Cat Ba Festival is the artistic fireworks display over the Central Bay. As night falls, thousands of tourists gather in the square area, the coastal road, and the bay shore to await the brilliant fireworks illuminating the sky of the pearl island.
Artistic fireworks light up the sky of the Central Bay. (Source: Collected)
To provide entertainment experiences throughout the summer, the fireworks program is held twice a week at Cat Ba Central Bay, in front of Sun Bavaria Cat Ba. Visitors can enjoy spectacular light shows at 9:30 PM on Fridays and 9:00 PM on Saturdays every week.
As the first fireworks burst simultaneously in the night sky, the light reflects on the water, creating a shimmering and emotional scene. From the areas of So Co Square, Ngoc Trai stage, or the streets along the bay, visitors can fully admire the beauty of the colorful display between the vast sea and sky.
4. Explore the entertainment ecosystem around the Cat Ba Blue Ocean Festival
4.1. So Co Square – the new symbol of the Central Bay
As the venue for many important festival activities, So Co Square has quickly become the most popular check-in spot in Cat Ba. The structure stands out with its ocean-inspired architecture, creating a large space for community events and large-scale festivals. Not only is it the center connecting activities, but the square also offers many impressive photo opportunities with a direct view of the bay.
4.2. Cat Ba VUI-Fest Night Market
VUI-Fest Cat Ba Night Market shines brightly with lights by the sea at night. (Source: Collected)
When the art programs at the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival conclude, the vibrant atmosphere continues to spread at the VUI-Fest Cat Ba night market, one of the liveliest night destinations in the Central Bay. Located right by the sea, the market offers an open entertainment space where visitors can stroll, enjoy cuisine, shop, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere that lasts until late night.
From the entrance, the night market impresses with its brilliant lighting system and colorful rows of kiosks stretching along the coastal pedestrian street. The space is always filled with music, laughter, and a bustling crowd. This is where a variety of attractive food stalls gather, from fresh Cat Ba seafood to street food favorites loved by many tourists.
The special feature that creates the allure of the VUI-Fest Cat Ba night market is the series of art activities inspired by the legend of Saint’s Island. Artists in striking light costumes appear along the street, delivering energetic performances and impressive visual effects. From dusk till late night, the festive atmosphere is continuously extended with DJ sets, violin performances, fire dancing, and live bands. Every corner of the street becomes a small stage where visitors can stop to enjoy special performances and capture memorable moments.
4.3. Sun Bravia Cat Ba
If you're looking for a more relaxing space after immersing yourself in the festival, Sun Bravia Cat Ba is an ideal stop by the Central Bay. Situated in a prime location directly facing the sea, the restaurant boasts an expansive view, allowing visitors to fully admire the beauty of the sunset over the bay as well as the spectacular fireworks displays on weekends.
Sun Bavaria Cat Ba boasts a prime location directly facing the central Bay. (Source: Collected)
Sun Bravia Cat Ba impresses with architecture inspired by the German Bavarian style. The spacious area with surrounding glass systems allows diners to enjoy cuisine while admiring the vast sea and island scenery. One of the most outstanding experiences here is enjoying Sun KraftBeer, a craft beer produced by a modern production line from the German brand Braukon.
Besides craft beer, the menu at Sun Bravia Cat Ba also captivates diners with a harmonious combination of European cuisine and fresh seafood from the waters of Cat Ba. The meticulously prepared dishes, ranging from grilled seafood and German sausages to international flavors, create a complete culinary experience amidst a modern island setting.
5. Experience Participating in the Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival
5.1. Convenient Travel to Cat Ba
Cable car cabins take visitors across the vast sea in about 15 minutes. (Source: Compiled)
The journey to Cat Ba is now much faster and more convenient thanks to the synchronously invested transportation system. One of the experiences many tourists love is traveling by Sun World Cat Ba cable car. The Cat Hai – Phu Long 3-wire cable car line has a total length of 3,955 m, a transport capacity of up to 4,500 passengers per hour with 60 cabins, each cabin seating 30 passengers. In just about 15 minutes, visitors can easily travel from Cat Hai island to the area near Cai Vieng pier on Cat Ba island.
The most attractive point of this journey is not only its convenience but also the opportunity to admire the beauty of the Cat Ba archipelago from above. As the cabin slowly leaves the station, a vast expanse of sea and sky opens up before your eyes with lush green mangrove forests, coastal fishing villages, and hundreds of limestone islands characteristic of Lan Ha Bay. On beautiful weather days, the sea surface appears with a prominent jade green color, creating a spectacular natural picture that delights many tourists.
For tourists who want to use their personal vehicles for convenient island exploration, the Dong Bai – Cai Vieng ferry route is a suitable choice. This ferry line allows the transport of both motorbikes and cars to the island, helping tourists easily combine visits to many famous destinations such as the Central Bay, Cat Co beaches, Lan Ha Bay, Cannon Fort, or Cat Ba National Park within the same trip.
5.2. Notes for enjoying the festival to the fullest
Due to the large number of attendees during the summer, booking accommodation in advance is essential to have a wide range of suitable lodging options. Tourists should also follow the event schedule and fireworks schedule to proactively arrange their time to participate in their favorite activities. Additionally, it is advisable to prepare comfortable clothing and suitable footwear for walking and participating in outdoor activities. A fully charged phone or camera will also help capture memorable moments during the festival exploration journey.
Not only a large-scale cultural and tourism event, Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival also offers an opportunity to explore the unique values of the northern island region. From the meaningful fish fry release ritual, vibrant art performances to spectacular fireworks by the Central Bay, each activity contributes to the unique charm of Cat Ba's summer. With a harmonious combination of tradition and modernity, Cat Ba Blue Sea Festival is gradually becoming an unmissable rendezvous for tourists every season on the pearl island.
