The ceremony was attended by central leaders, including: Mr. Trinh Van Quyet, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; Mr. To Huy Rua, former Politburo member, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Head of the Central Organization Commission and former Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee; Mr. Le Tien Chau, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and former Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee; current and former Party and State leaders; representatives of central committees, ministries, agencies and organizations; diplomatic missions, international organizations, international delegations. City leaders attending the ceremony included Mr. Le Ngoc Chau, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly Delegation; Mr. Do Manh Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee; Mr. Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Secretary of the  Hai Phong Party Committee and Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee; Mr. Le Van Hieu, Deputy Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Council; Mr. Pham Van Lap, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hai Phong Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee; vice chairpersons of the People’s Council and People’s Committee; former leaders of Hai Phong City and the former Hai Duong Province through different periods; representatives of departments, agencies and localities, along with a large number of residents and visitors.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Do Thanh Trung affirmed that the revolutionary struggle history of Hai Phong and Hai Duong stands as an epic of steadfast will and aspiration for freedom. From the liberation of Hai Duong town on October 30, 1954, to the “300-day” struggle marked by the intelligence and courage of the army and people of the port city, all converged on the glorious milestone of May 13, 1955 — the day Hai Phong was completely liberated. The theme “Hai Phong – Convergence – Radiance” affirms the close bond between the historical flow of the heroic port city and the culturally rich Eastern region.
At the opening ceremony, city leaders awarded the title of Hai Phong Tourism Ambassador to Miss Vietnam 2024 second runner-up Nguyen Thi Van Nhi, and presented decisions recognizing provincial-level tourist sites and tourism establishments meeting the city’s Green Tourism criteria.
The art programme “Hai Phong – Convergence – Radiance” was the highlight of the festival, meticulously staged on a grand scale with a combination of performing arts and modern stage technology. Through its diverse activities, the festival affirms the outstanding achievements in the construction and development of the new Hai Phong City.