Vietnam hosts sixth Cham Cultural Festival in Khanh Hoa

From 26 to 28 June 2026, Vietnam staged the sixth Cham Cultural Festival in Khanh Hoa province. The opening ceremony at the Square of the 16 May Monument was attended by Vice‑President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân and brought together more than 700 Cham artisans, performers and athletes from seven provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, including Khánh Hòa, Gia Lai, Lâm Đồng, Tây Ninh, An Giang and Đắk Lắk.

The three‑day programme highlighted traditional Cham rites such as the Rija Harei ceremony, the Kadhar fire‑biting dance, village deity worship and a Muslim Cham wedding. Cultural showcases featured folk music, pottery, silk‑weaving and a parade of Cham costumes. A sports competition ran concurrently, with football, volleyball, stick‑throwing, tug‑of‑war and a women’s water‑team event that emphasized ethnic dress.

Organisers framed the festival as a national effort to preserve and promote Cham heritage, linking cultural identity with tourism development and broader socio‑economic goals.