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Every summer, as the sea breeze begins to blow vigorously from the open ocean towards the shore, the sky over Phuoc Hai, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau) is adorned with the vibrant colors of giant kites. The kite festival, held regularly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Phuoc Hai Square, has long been a popular gathering place for tourists and locals alike. More than just a childhood game magnified to a spectacular degree, this event is also a convergence of passion, creativity, and the beauty of coastal culture.
Kite flying in the square of Phuoc Hai has become a distinctive local feature.
The sea and sky are ablaze with colorful kites in the summer.
From 3 pm, while the sun still cast its golden light on the waves, the kite-flying group members busied themselves preparing to launch their giant kites into the sky.
This year, audiences witnessed a unique performance by Mr. Hung, an artisan from Ho Chi Minh City with over 15 years of experience in the craft. For the first time in Vietnam, he presented ten giant maxi lizard kites, each measuring up to 34 meters in length, soaring through the air. “Making giant lizards is very difficult. No one in the world has ever attempted this size. I designed them entirely based on experience and imagination, without needing a template,” he shared. To complete one such “lizard,” he spent a full week, starting from aerodynamic calculations and designing the shape to sewing and assembling the fabric.
Mr. Hung - the creator of 10 giant lizard kites.
Besides that, the sky over Phuoc Hai is also ablaze with other "giants" like crocodiles, whales, octopuses, dragons, and phoenixes... brought by other kite enthusiasts. Each kite has its own unique character, creating a vibrant and colorful summer scene.
In previous years, owning a giant kite was almost impossible for kite flyers in Vietnam. Only in the last decade or so has the maxi kite become more common, and since the pandemic, the kite-flying community has flourished, with increasingly diverse designs and flying techniques.
Many different types of kites with various shapes can also be found here.
Phuoc Hai Kite Club - the keepers of color in the sky
Behind many spectacular performances is the Phuoc Hai Kite Club, founded by Mr. Chien two years ago. Despite its young age, the club has quickly become the "soul" of the festival, consistently bringing bold ideas: once releasing seven giant crocodiles simultaneously, or over a hundred kites of all kinds, from whales and dolphins to octopuses, soaring through the sky.
The club's activities have received strong support from the people and backing from the local government. This encouragement motivates the club to continuously innovate, making giant kites a familiar part of Phuoc Hai Square every summer. In addition to events in their hometown, the club also participates in many major festivals such as the Kite Festival, the Giant Kite Festival, and kite-flying festivals in many provinces and cities.
Kites from Phuoc Hai Kite Club
Mr. Chien, head of Phuoc Hai Kite Club
Kite flying in Phuoc Hai usually starts at 3 PM and ends around 5-6 PM, depending on weather conditions. It takes about ten people working together in perfect coordination, from spreading the kite, stretching the string, catching the wind, to adjusting the flight direction. Weather is a decisive factor; however, given their enormous size, giant kites also require skill and experience to ensure safety. If the wind is strong, the pull of the string can lift the person holding the kite; therefore, the release is always carefully calculated to avoid the kite losing control. When everything is ready, the kite slowly rises high into the air, captivating the eager eyes of the spectators.
When flying a giant kite, many people have to work together, straining to hold the string to ensure safety.
Each time they perform, the Phuoc Hai Kite Club refreshes the experience for the audience, creating a unique mark for Phuoc Hai on the tourism map. "I don't think I'm a trendsetter, I just want to create unique activities that are unlike anything else," said Mr. Chien.
When passion extends into a meeting space
The allure of giant kites not only attracts kite enthusiasts but also acts as a catalyst for new ideas. Phong, a dedicated member of the club, realized that most customers at the cafe near the square were tourists who always enjoyed stopping to watch the kites. From a small outdoor bar with a few plastic tables and chairs, he and Chien decided to expand it into a cafe called "Waiting for Love, Chill."
Located right next to the square, the cafe attracts many visitors who come to watch kite flying.
The shop serves as both a resting place for kite enthusiasts and a space to display unique kite designs along with awards and certificates from the club. It has become a "transit point" for stories of passion, where strangers can sit together, share about the wind, about techniques, or simply gaze at the sky.
The certificates and awards of the Phuoc Hai Kite Club are displayed in a separate room at the restaurant.
Following the giant kite back to childhood
As evening falls, the sunlight slants gently, and giant lizards coil their bodies against the deep blue sky, with the Phước Hải sea stretching out below. From afar, one can easily imagine these colossal creatures crawling towards the heavens. The shouts of children blend with the sound of waves and wind, creating a vibrant summer symphony.
For tourists, that moment is more than just a visual spectacle. It's a feeling of returning to childhood, when kite flying was a simple game but contained a whole world of dreams. This activity also opens up a space for interaction between locals and tourists, connecting the community through a traditional pastime. Every windy season, Phuoc Hai invites everyone to return, gaze at the colorful sky, and keep the memories of summer vibrant.
Locals and tourists alike stood in the square to admire the giant kite.
Each giant kite not only carries the wind but also the stories of the people standing beneath – those who dedicate their time, effort, and passion to keeping the skies of their homeland vibrant with color. And as summer draws to a close, the memories of windy afternoons and the giant kites of Phuoc Hai will remain, like a promise for the windy season of the following year.
