This year marks the fifth edition of the festival, which has become an important annual event for people-to-people and international exchanges, helping strengthen friendship and promote cooperation in investment, trade, tourism and culture between the two countries.
Expanded in scale with more than 90 booths and a diverse programme of activities running from August 6 to 9, the festival not only celebrates the distinctive cultural values of the two nations but also offers residents and visitors unique experiences while opening up practical opportunities for strategic cooperation in the digital era.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee, emphasised that Viet Nam and the RoK are entering a new stage of development, with broad opportunities for cooperation in economics, technology, innovation and people-to-people exchanges. Against this backdrop, Da Nang has consistently regarded Korean localities as among its most important partners, accompanying the city in its development and international integration.
The city is committed to continuing to foster a favourable investment environment, develop an innovation ecosystem, expand international cooperation and work with Korean partners to implement increasingly substantive, effective and sustainable cooperation programmes. The festival is expected to continue serving as a bridge of friendship, deepening mutual understanding and opening up new opportunities for cooperation.
Han Jung-il, Consul General of the RoK in Da Nang, expressed his hope that the music resonating throughout the festival, the food and the smiles while experiencing traditional culture will become a meaningful bridge bringing the peoples of the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam closer together.
Earlier the same afternoon, ahead of the opening ceremony, the “conference “Meet Korea in Da Nang 2026 was successfully held. Bringing together numerous experts and businesses from both countries, the event provided a platform for discussions on developing an AI ecosystem, promoting innovation and cultivating high-quality human resources.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on promoting friendship and cooperation between Da Nang and Osan City of the RoK. Festival activities had already begun on August 6 with a celebratory street parade and a spontaneous K-pop dance exchange at APEC Park.
Over the coming days, residents and visitors can immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural exchange space featuring more than 90 booths showcasing the cuisine, tourism offerings, products and services of the two countries.
The diverse programme includes Korean Film Days at CGV cinemas, the Gwangyang Media Art Lab digital art exhibition at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, a Viet Nam-RoK cooking competition, the K-pop dance final and a series of cultural and artistic performances. Visitors can also experience Korean Samulnori percussion and Sogo dance, join in Vietnamese bamboo dancing, and enjoy demonstrations of Taekwondo and Vietnamese traditional martial arts.
Sports fans will have the opportunity to take part in a friendly football exchange with two former national football stars of the RoK, Park Joo-ho and Lee Woon-jae. The festival also offers students direct access to information on study opportunities and scholarships from nearly 20 Korean universities and educational institutions.
Beyond providing a colourful entertainment and cultural space that enables the public to gain a deeper understanding of each other's cultures, the festival is expected to stimulate tourism demand and promote the image of a dynamic and welcoming Da Nang. It will also generate tangible benefits for businesses and contribute to further strengthening the Viet Nam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
