1. When does VUI-Fest Ha Long open?
1.1. Expected opening date according to the organizer's announcement
VUI-Fest Ha Long officially opens on the evening of April 25, 2026, in the Bai Chay area, Ha Long, Quang Ninh. This marks the opening of the night entertainment complex by the bay, where visitors can experience a series of culinary activities, art, light shows, and an outdoor festival space. The VUI-Fest Ha Long night entertainment complex is located in a prime location within Sun Porto Town, Sun Elite City (at the Lighthouse area - Ky Quan Street, Bai Chay). The emergence of this complex is expected to completely transform the night tourism landscape in the wonder sea city.
The VUI-Fest Ha Long night entertainment complex is located at a prime location within Sun Porto Town, Sun Elite City (at the Lighthouse area - Ky Quan Street, Bai Chay).
The opening event marks a shift in the development of the night economy in the Ha Long area as the integrated model of entertainment, cuisine, and art is put into operation. This complex is invested in to extend the average tourist stay from 1.8 days to a higher level by 2026.
1.2. Detailed Schedule for the Opening Ceremony
The complex's opening ceremony takes place in the evening to take advantage of the lighting and water performance effects on Ha Long Bay. Main activities begin around 7 PM with a large-scale integrated sound and light art performance program attracting thousands of direct participants in the central area.
During the opening night, the festival atmosphere becomes more vibrant with music stages, DJ shows, indie bands, and street artists performing in many coastal areas. Buggies are transformed into mobile stages, creating a flexible festive rhythm for tourists to stroll and immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere by the bay.
Opening ceremony of Sun World Ha Long evening with fireworks and DJ. (Source: Collected)
The most valuable highlight illuminating the opening night was the new art show named ‘Thuong Cang Phon Hoa’ (Prosperous Trading Port), held right at the Lighthouse area of Sun Bavaria Ha Long restaurant. For just 50,000 VND ticket price (buy directly at the ticket booth near the Lighthouse), visitors can embark on a journey to explore the history and culture of the heritage land through 3 peak performances.
The mysterious opening was the chapter ‘Long Van Khanh Hoi’ (Dragon Clouds Welcoming Fortune) with 3D Mapping projection technology turning the Lighthouse into a giant screen. Following that was the chapter ‘Ky Uc Thuong Cang’ (Trading Port Memories) with a spectacular red sailing boat water show recreating the golden age of the ancient Van Don trading port. Finally, the opening night exploded to its climax with the chapter ‘Toa Sang Vinh Ky Quan’ (Shining the Wonder Bay) featuring a sky-filling art fireworks display combined with vibrant DJ music, bringing an incomparably brilliant opening moment for VUI-Fest Ha Long.
1.3. Operating hours after opening for visitors
After the official opening, the entertainment complex operates under a night-time model, with opening hours mainly from evening to late night to suit tourist consumption habits. Art and culinary areas operate from approximately 5 PM to 11 PM on weekdays and extend longer on weekends to meet increased experience demands. Typically, VUI-Fest Ha Long starts buzzing from around 5:00 PM and lasts until 11:00 PM or 12:00 AM. The period from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM is the most worthwhile time to experience, when the food stalls, performance stages, check-in areas, and light activities all come alive.
After the opening day, the show ‘Thuong Cang Phon Hoa’ (including light projection, water show, and nightly art fireworks) will be officially scheduled to perform at 9:00 PM every evening . Knowing this fixed time helps visitors easily arrange their dinner and strolling schedules and proactively visit the ticket booth near the Lighthouse to buy tickets to enjoy the show by the bay.
Fireworks every night become an unmissable experience in Ha Long.
Peak hours usually fall between 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM, especially before the fireworks begin. Visitors should arrive early for convenient parking, to choose a viewing spot, and to explore the food areas.
2. Highlight of the VUI-Fest Ha Long Night Market
2.1. VUI-Fest Ha Long Exploration Itinerary
On the evening of April 25th, VUI-Fest Ha Long officially launched in Bai Chay, offering an entertainment and culinary space in the style of a prosperous trading port. In the morning, visitors can take a bus to Bai Chay, choose a light recreational activity to warm up, or stroll around the central area. To make the daytime itinerary more vibrant, visitors can visit Sun World Ha Long to experience entertainment games before moving to the VUI-Fest area in the evening. Lunch should be taken near the central area, prioritizing easily digestible dishes to conserve energy for the evening. The afternoon can be dedicated to a sea-view cafe, taking photos, resting at the hotel, or gradually moving towards the Lighthouse area.
Tourists take a bus to visit Bai Chay and have lunch in Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
If traveling from farther areas like Hon Gai, Cam Pha, or the airport, you should allow extra travel time to avoid arriving too close to the opening hour. New events often attract many tourists, so arriving early will help your group proactively choose viewing spots, dining areas, and routes. For bus itineraries, it's advisable to prioritize stops near Bai Chay or the Sun Elite City area to minimize the need for multiple transfers.
On the opening day, the itinerary should not be too packed as the evening is the most anticipated part. Tourists can reduce secondary sightseeing spots and instead spend time resting before entering the festive atmosphere. This arrangement ensures the journey offers enough experiences without exhausting participants before the music, light, and fireworks activities.
2.2. Timing Your Viewing of Performances and Fireworks
To conveniently watch performances and fireworks, tourists should arrive at the VUI-Fest Ha Long area in the late afternoon. This is a suitable time for a light meal, observing the event space, and selecting a viewing position before the crowd increases. According to Tien Phong, on the opening night, many tourists arrived from the late afternoon to wait for the sailboat performance and high-altitude fireworks in the Bai Chay area.
The ideal timing is not just about when the fireworks start, but also the transition from dusk to night. When natural light is still sufficient, tourists can take photos at the Lighthouse area, food streets, and decorated corners within VUI-Fest Ha Long. Afterward, as the city lights up, the music, lighting, and performances will create a more vivid sense of a festival night by the bay.
When natural light is sufficient, visitors can take photos at the Lighthouse area, the food streets, and decorative corners in VUI-Fest Ha Long.
To have the most complete festival night, as soon as the city lights up, visitors should move to the ticket area near the Lighthouse to get a ticket to watch the show ‘Thuong Cang Phon Hoa’ (Prosperous Port) for only 50,000 VND. Proactively buying tickets early will help you easily choose an ideal seating position at Sun Bavaria Ha Long restaurant or nearby areas, leisurely enjoying everything from the 3D Mapping performance, sailboat water show to the spectacular fireworks party.
For groups traveling by bus for the day, it is advisable to choose a stop near the event area and avoid bringing too many bulky items. If traveling with young children or the elderly, you should find a spacious standing spot, close to the exit, and avoid overly crowded areas before the fireworks. Young groups can move more flexibly, but should still agree on a meeting point to avoid getting separated when the event is crowded.
After the fireworks conclude, visitors should not rush to leave the central area at the same time as the crowd. The group can linger for drinks, take a short walk, or wait for the crowd to thin out before heading to the bus pick-up point. With reasonable timing, the opening night of VUI-Fest Ha Long will become a complete highlight in the exploration of Bai Chay in 2026.
Information on when VUI-Fest Ha Long opens helps visitors proactively plan their experience of this attractive night entertainment space. Updating the official time along with influencing factors will make the journey to explore Ha Long more convenient. Visitors should follow the latest information to not miss the ideal time to participate in the special vibrant activities.
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3. Suggested Itinerary for Exploring VUI-Fest Ha Long and Sun World Ha Long
To have a complete exploration of Ha Long, visitors can combine a morning bay tour by cruise, admiring famous natural wonders such as Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, or Fighting Cocks Islet. The afternoon is the ideal time to experience exciting games at Sun World Ha Long or join a food tour to discover local specialties like squid cake, mantis shrimp vermicelli, and sea sam. When the city lights up, visit VUI-Fest Ha Long – the night market complex by the bay with a series of shopping, dining, and entertainment activities. Not only gathering many special stalls, VUI-Fest Ha Long also offers a vibrant check-in space, street art performances, and entertainment experiences lasting until late at night, making the Ha Long trip more vibrant and memorable.
VUI-Fest Ha Long is a recently popular tourist destination in the coastal city. (Source: Collected)
You can also customize your itinerary further. If you spend a full day playing at Sun World Ha Long, visitors should start their journey from the coastal amusement area with a series of thrilling games, suitable for young groups and families with children. Then, experience the Queen Cable Car crossing Cua Luc Bay to reach Ba Deo hill – which offers a panoramic view of Ha Long city and the beautiful bay.
Here, visitors can visit the Japanese Garden, the children's play area, the wax museum, and especially the Sun Wheel – one of the tallest Ferris wheels in Vietnam. The afternoon is the ideal time to relax, take photos, and watch the sunset from hundreds of meters high. After finishing the journey at Sun World Ha Long, visitors can conveniently move to the Bai Chay area to enjoy dinner, explore local dishes before immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of VUI-Fest Ha Long. The combination of a world-class amusement park and a night market by the bay will bring a day of diverse experiences, from entertainment, relaxation to exploring Ha Long's culture and cuisine.
