The announcement was made on September 26 by the HCM City Department of Tourism, marking a milestone as the festival becomes one of the few events in Vietnam to gain dual international recognition.

The festival won the Gold Stevie Award for Arts, Entertainment & Public Festival, while its opening show, the art programme “Vietnam: The Legendary Voyage,” received the Gold Stevie Award for Arts, Entertainment & Public-Cultural Festival.

The IBA, part of the American Stevie Awards system, is among the world’s most prestigious business award platforms, often dubbed the “Oscars of the business world” by the New York Post. Its 23rd edition this year attracted over 3,800 nominations from 78 countries and territories, showcasing competition among leading corporations, organisations, and global brands.

First launched in 2023, the HCM City River Festival has quickly grown in scale and impact. The 2024 edition, highlighted by “Vietnam: The Legendary Voyage”, a five-chapter production featuring nearly 1,000 performers and blending folk arts, music, dance, lighting, cinema, and modern technology, drew more than 4.5 million participants, including 121,000 international visitors, and generated around VND4.25 trillion in tourism revenue.

The third river festival is slated for November 29 to December 31 in many venues across the southern city. It will feature diverse activities to promote waterway tourism, cultural performances, regional linkages, shopping promotions, and ticket discounts, further strengthening its role as a signature cultural and tourism event that attracts both domestic and international travelers.

Visitors to second HCM City River Festival have chance to enjoy local dishes

A cuisine space opened on May 31 as part of the second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival which is underway in the southern metropolis.