The Tourism Festival - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night was first held in 2017. Since then, it has become an annual event that attracts many tourists. This event is an opportunity to promote and showcase popular tourist destinations, such as the Ninh Kieu Wharf, which is a significant tourist attraction in the Mekong Delta. It is also a chance to display the local specialties and cuisine and to boost the potential and strengths of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism and river tourism. The festival also creates opportunities for businesses to cooperate, promote cultural exchanges, and preserve traditional craft villages and cultural values. Additionally, the festival provides a platform for Ninh Kieu to showcase its outstanding achievements in economic, cultural, social, defense, and security development over the past 20 years as a central district of Can Tho City.

The 6th Tourism Festival - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night 2023 is expected to take place from December 28 to December 30, 2023, at Rach Cai Khe stage, Cai Khe ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho City. Within the framework of the event, several activities are scheduled to take place, including an opening ceremony, an exhibition of floral lanterns, a light art performance on the river, releasing flower lanterns on the river, booths to promote tourism and sell traditional products, and a booth to demonstrate Southern folk cake and cuisine.

The opening ceremony for the event will be held at Rach Khai Luong stage on December 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. This will be a city-level event and is expected to be of a large scale. The opening ceremony included a cultural program with many performances praising the beauty of Can Tho City and Ninh Kieu district during the process of construction and development over the past 20 years. During the opening ceremony, there will be a Drone Light performance with the theme “Ninh Kieu District - 20 years of achievements and development”. For the first time, the Tourism Festival - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night takes place on a floating stage and features a Drone Light performance. The Drone Light demonstration program, undertaken by Moc Event Trading and Services Co., Ltd., is 15 minutes long and features 12 images about Can Tho City and Ninh Kieu District, such as the pedestrian bridge, Ninh Kieu Wharf, Can Tho night market, Don ca tai tu, Southern folk cakes, etc.

The light art show takes place on December 28 and 29, combining an LED lights performance and a fireworks display. This event is managed by Golden Dragon Event Company. They also invited People's Artist Nguyen Thanh Van to make a led kite model. The kite is shaped like Can Tho old market and symbolizes the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Ninh Kieu district, expected to be flown on the pedestrian bridge, serving tourists.

Another highlight is the exhibition of 80 large floral lantern models displayed at Khai Luong Canal. This exhibition will open for visitors until the 2024 Giap Thin Tet holiday. The floral lantern models aim to promote famous destinations of the districts, typical products, and prominent businesses of Can Tho City. On this occasion, visitors will also be able to see the release of flower lanterns on the river.

Within the framework of the festival, there are also about 100 booths to promote tourism, sell traditional products, and demonstrate Southern folk cake and cuisine. Besides, there are also street art performances, traditional folk music performances, music shows, dance performances, etc. Furthermore, visitors are allowed to participate in some activities, and join the bustling atmosphere of the festival.

Schedule of Events:

- The opening ceremony for the event will be held at Rach Khai Luong stage on December 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

- A Drone Light performance titled “Ninh Kieu District - 20 years of achievements and development” at Khai Luong canal stage on December 28, 2023, at 8:10 p.m

- A light art performance will take place at 8:25 p.m. on December 28 and at 7:30 p.m. on December 29 at Rach Khai Luong stage.

- An exhibition of floral lantern models will be displayed from December 28 until the Lunar New Year at Rach Khai Luong (canal).

- Booths promoting tourism, Southern folk cake and cuisine, and OCOP products will open to visitors from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from December 28 to 30 at Ninh Kieu Park.

- A Don Ca Tai Tu performance will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on December 29 at Ninh Kieu Park.

- Street music will be played from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on December 29 at Ninh Kieu Park.

- A general art program will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on December 30 at Ninh Kieu Park.

- On January 5, the closing ceremony will take place at the Hall of the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu District at 2:00 p.m..

The Festival area will be closed to vehicle traffic. Visitors can park their vehicles at several locations, including the parking lot along Ngo Gia Tu Street (next to Can Tho Library), the parking lot in the area of Ninh Kieu Night Market (Phan Chu Trinh Street), and the Sense City parking lot (Ngo Van So Street, Ngo Quyen Street), etc.