Vietnamese film festivals: HANIFF, DANAFF, and the Golden Kite Awards

A guide to Vietnam's three major film events — HANIFF, DANAFF, and the Golden Kite Awards — covering timing, focus, and how visitors can typically get tickets.

Published 2026-07-05· 8 min read· Vietnam Knowledge

Last reviewed: 5 July 2026Report outdated info

Vietnam's film industry has grown a public festival circuit alongside it, and three names come up most often: HANIFF, DANAFF, and the Golden Kite Awards (Cánh Diều Vàng). Each serves a different purpose — one is an international showcase, one is a younger regional event built around Da Nang's tourism ambitions, and one is a domestic industry award closer in spirit to a national film academy prize. Visitors sometimes assume all three are open, ticketed public festivals in the way a Western film festival might be; in practice, access and format vary between them, and it is worth checking the current year's programme rather than assuming a fixed pattern.

HANIFF: the Hanoi International Film Festival

The Hanoi International Film Festival (Liên hoan phim Quốc tế Hà Nội, generally abbreviated HANIFF) is Vietnam's flagship international film event, organized under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It runs on a biennial cycle, typically held in odd-numbered years, though exact scheduling has shifted between editions, so confirm the current year's dates rather than assuming a fixed month. HANIFF brings in feature films, documentaries, and short films from a mix of Vietnamese and international submissions, alongside industry talks, retrospectives, and a competition programme with juried awards.

Screenings have historically been centered in Hanoi, using cinemas and cultural venues across the capital, with red-carpet and gala events at larger theatres. For a sense of the city hosting it, see the Hanoi region guide.

DANAFF: the Da Nang Asian Film Festival

The Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) is a newer addition to Vietnam's festival calendar, focused specifically on Asian cinema rather than a global slate. It launched in the 2020s as part of a broader push to position Da Nang as a cultural and tourism hub beyond its beaches, and it typically runs annually, usually mid-year, though exact timing can move between editions.

DANAFF's programme generally includes a competition section for Asian feature films, alongside Vietnamese cinema showcases, panel discussions, and guest appearances from regional directors and actors. Because it is a younger festival, its format and venue mix have continued to evolve year to year. For visitors combining a festival trip with sightseeing, the Da Nang region guide covers the wider area, and the coastal city sits within reach of imperial-era sites in Huế — see the Hue region guide.

The Golden Kite Awards (Cánh Diều Vàng)

The Golden Kite Awards, run by the Vietnam Cinema Association, function more like a national industry award than a public festival — closer in spirit to an academy-style prize than to HANIFF or DANAFF's screening programmes. Cánh Diều Vàng recognizes Vietnamese-made feature films, television dramas, documentaries, and short films across a given production year, with categories for direction, screenplay, acting, and technical craft.

The ceremony is typically held annually, generally in the first half of the year, recognizing films and programmes from the preceding year. Unlike HANIFF and DANAFF, the awards are not built primarily around public screenings — the event centers on an industry ceremony, though some nominated films may already be in general release. For a broader overview of the industry, see Vietnamese cinema.

How the three events differ

Event	Scope	Frequency	Best fit for
HANIFF	International feature, documentary, and short films	Biennial (typically odd years)	Visitors wanting an international festival experience with a Vietnamese host city
DANAFF	Pan-Asian cinema with a Vietnamese showcase	Typically annual	Visitors combining a festival trip with Da Nang or central Vietnam travel
Golden Kite Awards	Domestic industry awards	Annual	Following which Vietnamese films and TV productions are recognized that year

Because scheduling, venue, and format have shifted across editions, this table is a general orientation rather than a fixed yearly calendar.

Tickets, accreditation, and public access

Access differs by event type. HANIFF and DANAFF generally offer public ticketing for at least some screenings, often through partner cinema chains or festival box offices, while galas and industry panels may be invitation-only or require separate accreditation. Journalists, industry professionals, and delegates typically apply for accreditation through the festival's organizing committee ahead of time, separate from general ticket sales.

The Golden Kite Awards ceremony is generally not open to walk-up public ticket purchase, since it functions as an industry event; broadcast or streaming coverage has become more common, and some award-winning films become available through cinema release or streaming afterward. Checking the organizing body's official announcements or established Vietnamese entertainment news outlets closer to the date is the most reliable way to confirm ticketing and venue details.

Practical notes for planning a visit around a festival

Confirm the year and dates early. HANIFF's biennial cycle and shifting DANAFF dates mean a given festival may not run every year.
Language and subtitles vary by screening. International submissions at HANIFF are typically subtitled, but not every screening includes English subtitles.
Accommodation fills up during festival weeks, particularly in Da Nang around DANAFF, since the event overlaps with the city's broader tourist season.
Combine with regional sightseeing. Da Nang's proximity to Hue and its imperial history, discussed in the Nguyen Dynasty overview, makes a combined itinerary practical.
Media coverage is a reasonable substitute for those unable to travel — results and selected screenings are often reported by Vietnamese entertainment media.

Why these festivals matter to Vietnamese cinema

HANIFF, DANAFF, and the Golden Kite Awards each play a distinct role in Vietnam's film industry: HANIFF provides international visibility and co-production contacts, DANAFF builds regional ties within Asian cinema while doubling as a tourism draw for Da Nang, and the Golden Kite Awards give the domestic industry a formal, juried recognition system distinct from box-office performance. Together they offer a reasonably complete picture of how Vietnamese films get made, screened, and recognized, both at home and internationally.

Frequently asked questions

How often does HANIFF take place?

HANIFF typically runs on a biennial cycle, generally in odd-numbered years, though exact scheduling has varied between editions, so it is worth confirming current dates with official festival announcements rather than assuming a fixed year.

Is DANAFF the same as HANIFF?

No. DANAFF (Da Nang Asian Film Festival) is a separate, newer event focused specifically on Asian cinema and typically held annually in Da Nang, while HANIFF (Hanoi International Film Festival) is a biennial international festival hosted in Hanoi with a broader global submission scope.

Can the public buy tickets to the Golden Kite Awards?

In most cases, no. The Golden Kite Awards function primarily as an industry ceremony run by the Vietnam Cinema Association rather than a publicly ticketed festival, though broadcast or streaming coverage has become more common, and some award-winning films may later be available through cinema release or streaming.

Are festival screenings subtitled in English?

International submissions at events like HANIFF are typically subtitled, but not every screening guarantees English subtitles, so checking individual film listings in the festival programme is recommended before planning around a specific film.

What is the best way to confirm current festival dates and ticket availability?

Checking the organizing committee's official announcements or established Vietnamese entertainment news outlets close to the expected date is generally the most reliable approach, since programme details, venues, and ticketing for all three events are not always finalized far in advance.