Fireworks to light up Đà Nẵng's sky as international festival returns with a bang

A fireworks performance decorates the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng City. The 2023 International Fireworks Festival will be organised in the city from June 3 to July 8. Photo courtesy of Lê Lâm

The host's Việt Nam will go up against Finland in the curtain-raiser of the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) on June 3 as the unique event returns to the central city after a three-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event’s organisers, Sun Group, said that the 2023 event would focus on post-COVID-19 tourism promotion as a benchmark for full economic growth in the central region and the country.

It said the DIFF on the Hàn River would be organised through June and end by the final on July 8.

This year DIFF will feature eight teams from the UK, Italy, Poland, France, Australia, Canada, Finland and Việt Nam competing over five nights across two months.

After the opening night in June, Canada and France will show off their performance on the second night on June 10 before Australia joins Italy on the third night on June 17.

Poland and the UK will share the fourth night on the 17,000-seat stand on June 14.

A night view of the Thuận Phước Bridge in Đà Nẵng. The city attracts tourists with colourful decorations of bridges spanning over the Hàn River at night. Photo courtesy of Lê Lâm

Sun Group said a series of art performances and night cultural activities would be planned every weekend at the city’s landmarks, such as Bà Nà Hills and Asia Park, to promote the main event.

This year's festival will highlight the slogan: "The World Without Distance".

Each team will put on a 20-minute performance based on five themes: No Distance Love, Peace for the World, Equality for Human Being, No Limits Innovation, and Sustainable Tourism Development.

The property developer also said the "WOW Đà Nẵng" campaign would be promoted nationwide as an attraction to visitors this summer.

The latest festival in 2019, seen as the most successful performance with more than one million visitors, was completed with victory for Finland’s Joho Pyro Fireworks.

Canada’s Davis Whysall took the top prize in 2008, while China’s Liuyang Dancing won in 2009. France’s Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010.

The Golden Bridge is an attractive check-in site in the Bà Nà Mountains resorts in Đà Nẵng City. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

Italy’s Martarello won the title twice in 2017 and 2018 after another Italian team, Parente Fireworks, doubled in 2011 and 2012.

The US team Melrose Pyrotechnics took the first spot in 2013, while the Australian Howard&Sons Pyrotechnics clinched the title in 2015.

Đà Nẵng has been the only place in Việt Nam to have hosted a fireworks festival, making it a magnet for the best fireworks producers from around the world each year since 2008.

It has been building a "Fireworks Festival City" reputation to promote it as a top destination in central Việt Nam and Asia.