HAI PHONG RED FLAMBOYANT FLOWER FESTIVAL 2023

Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival 2023, under the theme “Hai Phong - Shining at the Estuary of the Sea”, marked the 68th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day and the 10-year milestone of the city’s largest cultural festival. For Dream Studio, the project was conceived not as a conventional local celebration, but as a cultural industry initiative designed to strengthen the city’s tourism appeal, elevate its urban image, and reinforce Hai Phong’s position as one of the region’s most dynamic cultural and travel destinations.

Instead of following the familiar epic-stage format often associated with local festivals, Dream Studio adopted a different approach by using performance technology as a storytelling medium. Narratives of the city’s history, cultural identity, industrious spirit, and aspirations for growth were expressed through a contemporary language of visuals, music, lighting, and immersive effects, moving away from literal or illustrative forms of representation.

A key highlight of the program was its large-scale stage structure, featuring nearly 1,000 square meters  of LED screens integrated with laser systems, programmable lighting, drone performances, and more than 1,000 custom-built props. Installed at Hai Phong Opera Square, the production created an expansive visual experience for audiences. Every technical component was designed to support a multi-layered narrative structure, where technology expanded emotional engagement rather than serving as a purely decorative stage effect.

The production involved nearly 500 professional and semi-professional performers, enabling the creation of large-scale scenes that combined symphonic music, contemporary performance, and visual arts within a unified theatrical environment. Featuring leading Vietnamese artists including Ho Ngoc Ha, Hoang Thuy Linh, Noo Phuoc Thinh, Tung Duong, Van Mai Huong, Trong Hieu, Pham Thu Ha, OPlus, and Hoang Rob, the festival presented a youthful and contemporary image while preserving the distinctive spirit of the Port City. Classic songs associated with Hai Phong, together with the theme song “Hai Phong - Shining at the Estuary of the Sea,” were reimagined through a contemporary musical language, contributing to the atmosphere of a true festival experience.

For Dream Studio, Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Flower Festival 2023 represented more than a commemorative arts program. It served as an opportunity to explore new approaches to developing cultural industry products for local destinations. Through the project, Dream Studio continued the pursuit of transforming public events into enduring cultural experiences that contribute to the growth of Vietnam’s cultural and tourism industries.