Hoi An Folk Art Performance at Kazik Park: Music, Dance & a Night to Remember (Oct 2026)

Updated 22 October 2026. By Emilia, Visit Da Nang.

Hoi An at night is not only about glowing lanterns. Tonight I followed the sound of a moon lute down Trần Phú Street and found a crowd of tourists and locals standing shoulder to shoulder in front of Kazik Park. On stage: musicians in yellow and green, a folk singer, dancers with clay pots balanced on their heads, and right behind them, the stone face of the man who helped save this old town. It was one of my favourite free hours in Hoi An this year.

What was the Hoi An Folk Arts Program?

The Folk Arts Program (“Chương trình Nghệ thuật dân gian” on the sign) was a free, one-hour outdoor performance of traditional Vietnamese music, singing and dance at Kazik Park in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town. The sign carried the logo of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Centre, the local body that looks after the old town. Anyone walking past could stop and watch.

What did the performance include?

In one hour we saw live traditional music, folk songs, a comic skit and two dance numbers. Here is what was on stage:

• A live traditional band. Musicians in yellow and green áo dài-style costumes played the đàn tranh (16-string zither), đàn nguyệt (moon lute), đàn nhị (two-string fiddle), drums and flute.
• Folk singers. Solo singers, a man in brown traditional clothes and a woman in an orange áo dài, sang with the band.
• A comic folk skit. An old man with a long white beard and two women carrying pots acted out a funny village scene. You don’t need Vietnamese to laugh along; the body language says it all.
• A Cham-style pot dance. Dancers in blue costumes moved gracefully with clay pots balanced on their heads, a nod to the Cham heritage of central Vietnam (think My Son Sanctuary).
• Dancers in pink áo dài. A softer, flowing number to close out the set.

Who was Kazik, and why is the park named after him?

Kazik was Kazimierz Kwiatkowski (1944–1997), a Polish architect and conservator who came to Vietnam in 1981 to lead a Polish-Vietnamese restoration mission. He spent over 16 years helping to restore and promote Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and the Hue Monuments, all three later listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. He died in Hue in March 1997.

Hoi An still remembers him. A 2.5-metre stone memorial by sculptor Phạm Hồng stands in Kazik Park at 138 Trần Phú, and on performance night it was the backdrop to the whole stage, with fresh flowers placed at its base. Watching folk music being played in front of the man who fought to keep these streets standing felt very special to me.

What does “UNESCO Creative City” mean for Hoi An?

On 31 October 2023, Hoi An joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Art. That is a separate title from the old town’s World Heritage listing in 1999. It recognises Hoi An’s living traditions: lantern making, pottery, carpentry, tailoring, and performances like this one. Free folk-art nights in public spaces are part of how the city keeps those traditions alive and in front of visitors.

When is the next Folk Arts Program in Hoi An?

I could not find an official, published schedule for this Folk Arts Program, so I can only confirm that it was held on 22 October 2026, from 7 to 8 PM. Hoi An does host free street performances at Kazik Park on special occasions, such as New Year’s Eve. For upcoming dates, check with the Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Management, ask at your hotel, or look for notices around the old town. Better still, follow Visit Da Nang on Facebook or Instagram: we post daily Hoi An updates, including shows like this one.

My tips if you catch the next one

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. The crowd stands right on Trần Phú Street, and the best spots in front of the stage fill up fast.
• Bring small cash for a drink or a snack from the old-town vendors nearby.
• Be kind with your phone. Film a little, then put it down and enjoy. Don’t block the view of people behind you, and ask before taking close-up photos of anyone.
• Make a night of it. Kazik Park is a short walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Hoài River, so you can go straight to the lantern boats afterwards.
• Coming from Da Nang? Plan your transport back before the show. Hoi An is about 45 minutes to an hour by car.

More things to do in Hoi An at night

If you loved this, you’ll also enjoy the big, ticketed version of Hoi An’s story: see my Hoi An Memories Show guide. Planning your visit? Read Hoi An from Da Nang: why you need more than a day trip. And in December, don’t miss the Hoi An International Lantern Festival (3 to 6 December 2026).

FAQ

Is the Hoi An folk art performance at Kazik Park free?

Yes. The 22 October 2026 Folk Arts Program was free to watch from Trần Phú Street. Kazik Park is inside the Old Town, so the usual Old Town entrance ticket rules apply.

Where is Kazik Park in Hoi An?

Kazik Park is at 138 Trần Phú Street, in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town. Look for the large stone memorial of architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski.

Does the folk arts program happen every week?

There is no fixed weekly schedule that we know of. This one took place on 22 October 2026, from 7 to 8 PM, and it was free to watch. Follow Visit Da Nang on Facebook or Instagram for daily Hoi An updates, and check local notices for future dates.

Who was Kazik?

Kazimierz Kwiatkowski (1944–1997) was a Polish architect who helped restore Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and the Hue Monuments from 1981 until his death in 1997.

Is Hoi An a UNESCO Creative City?

Yes. Hoi An joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Crafts and Folk Art on 31 October 2023. Its Ancient Town has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

👉 Want help planning your Hoi An evening? See the tours and tickets I recommend on our Book page.

Sources: Kazik’s biography from Viet Nam News; Creative City designation from Vietnam Government News. Event details from our own visit on 22 October 2026.