On October 6, 2025, Sun World Ba Na Hills – one of the most famous tourist destinations in Central Vietnam – officially inaugurated the Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum at Hoi An Station 2. This is the first Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum in Vietnam, promising to become a brand-new and fascinating attraction for visitors to Da Nang, launched just in time for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Lion & Dragon Dance has been present in Vietnamese cultural life for centuries, regarded as a unique form of folk performance. It often appears during major festivals such as Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán), the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditional village festivals, and grand opening ceremonies, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and smooth beginnings.
With the goal of honoring this vibrant folk art, Sun World Ba Na Hills has established the first Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum in Vietnam, covering nearly 1,500m². The museum offers visitors unique and fascinating cultural experiences, helping to bring this traditional art form closer to both domestic and international audiences.
The Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum is located at Hoi An Station 2 inside Sun World Ba Na Hills.
When visiting the museum, guests are guided on a cultural journey to explore the unique characteristics of the Lion & Dragon Dance across Vietnam’s three regions — North, Central, and South — each showcasing its own distinct traditions.
Entering the Northern Lion & Dragon Dance space, visitors can admire the rustic yet dignified beauty of northern-style lion and dragon models, along with lion heads, drums, masks, the traditional Tễu figure, and other performance instruments. The northern style carries a strong imprint of folk traditions, closely tied to village festivals, communal temples, and sacred rituals.
All displayed items in this section are crafted by Northern artisans, reflecting a traditional, simple aesthetic with minimal innovation. More than just a performance, the Northern Lion & Dragon Dance embodies faith, spirituality, and reverence for ancestors, with the belief that it brings blessings, dispels evil spirits, and prays for peace and prosperity for the nation.
Visitors will get to learn about the art of Lion & Dragon Dance across all three regions of Vietnam: North – Central – South
Continuing the journey, guests will explore the Central Lion & Dragon Dance, which is widely known in Hội An through the Thiên Cẩu (Celestial Dog) figure. This is a distinctive form of folk performance that has existed for more than 100 years, closely tied to spiritual beliefs, expressing prayers for peace and abundant harvests.
In this section, visitors can admire models of Thiên Cẩu, Lion Heads, and Dragons, all crafted by artisan Nguyễn Hưng – the only craftsman in Hội An specializing in making lion heads and Thiên Cẩu figures.
Each exhibition zone carries its own distinct cultural identity.
With a more vibrant and liberal style compared to the North and Central regions, the Southern Lion & Dragon Dance is distinguished by its bright colors, intricate patterns, large lion heads, and diverse expressions. Visitors will be able to admire glowing neon dragon models, the Four Sacred Creatures (Dragon – Unicorn – Tortoise – Phoenix), lion figures, and lion dance costumes. These artifacts were crafted by artisan Lê Hồng – Head of the Lion–Dragon Dance troupe of Miếu Bảy Bà, An Giang.
Exploring this section, visitors will understand why the Southern Lion & Dragon Dance is not merely a performing art, but an indispensable element of festivals, store openings, Lunar New Year celebrations, and more. It symbolizes the wish for prosperity, good fortune, and peace, serving as a vivid testament to the cultural fusion and strong vitality of folk art in dynamic Southern Vietnam.
Visitors can also enjoy interactive experiences such as mask painting and shopping for souvenirs at the museum.
Beyond exploring the unique cultural features of the Lion & Dragon Dance Art, guests are invited to take part in engaging activities that bring the tradition to life.
Sharing about the inspiration behind creating Vietnam’s first Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum, Mr. Nguyễn Lâm An, General Director of Sun World Ba Na Hills, said:
“We have cherished the idea of this museum for a long time, with the hope of contributing to the promotion of Vietnam’s traditional culture, bringing it closer to both domestic and international visitors. The launch of the museum during the Mid-Autumn Festival holds a special meaning, as this is the time when the Lion & Dragon Dance plays the most significant role in Vietnamese cultural life. We hope the museum will become an inspiring cultural space where memories are retold in a contemporary, approachable, and creative way.”
Located within the Hoi An Station 2 complex, also the starting point of Cable Car Line 8, the Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum is not only a cultural tribute but also a fascinating starting point for a journey through Sun World Ba Na Hills. After discovering the museum’s unique values, visitors can take Cable Car Line 8 to the Moon Kingdom and easily access other iconic attractions at the summit, such as the Moon Castle, Eclipse Square, Funicular Railway, French Village, Golden Bridge, Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden, and Linh Ứng Pagoda.
Visitors will also be treated to a Mid-Autumn Festival Feast at the Four Seasons Restaurant.
On this occasion, Sun World Ba Na Hills offers a variety of exciting activities to let guests fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The restaurants are lavishly decorated with colorful lanterns and traditional spinning lanterns, creating a joyful holiday setting. Especially, visitors can join the “Moonlight Feast” at the restaurants, where they will enjoy traditional desserts such as mooncakes, sweet soups, fresh fruits, and fragrant tea.
The “After Glow” show is offered free of charge to visitors in two time slots.
After moments of exhilaration with the traditional Lion & Dragon Dance and the most delightful experiences at Ba Na, don’t miss the chance to enjoy “After Glow” — a unique cabaret performance where light, music, dance, and fashion blend into a passionate symphony without limits. The show is available free of charge at two time slots: 13:30 – 14:00 and 19:00 – 19:30 (except Tuesdays), exclusively for guests over 18 years old.
With its unique experiences and profound cultural significance, the Lion & Dragon Dance Art Museum at Sun World Ba Na Hills truly deserves to be a must-visit destination in Da Nang during this Mid-Autumn Festival.
DANANG CENTER FOR TOURISM PROMOTION
