DIFC 2009: A Special Trademark of Danang

 

This is the topic of the DIFC 2008 with the participation of four teams from Vietnam, Hong Kong, Canada, and Malaysia.

 

During the contest last year, thousands of people eagerly waited on the Han Bridge and two streets along the Han River's banks - where the main stage and firework display area were located - several hours in advance in order to occupy the best positions for the opening ceremony. On the high levels of such hotels as Green Plaza, Daesco, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza, or sky scrapers, spectators waited with excitement and anticipation. Many activities took place on the bank and in the water. While waiting for the firework display, a special music performance started on the main stage with the participation of popular stars nationwide. The Han River's water surface was sparkling and colourful from the reflections of the candle-lit flower floats, flower lanterns, and flower boat parade.  The atmosphere was extremely lively when the first fireworks burst out in the sky of Danang, opening a jubilant and radiant evening. The host team-Vietnam (as represented by Danang) played the first impressive part with the project "Fairy Dance" - a fine legend about descending fairies on the Danang beautiful beach. Such images of "heart", "smile", or "butterfly" directed audience towards ambitions of love, happiness, and a world of peace. The following parts carried the topics "Danang on A New Day" and "Returning to Festival Area" drew up a picture of a young and dynamic city in the trend of integration and development of the country, the region, and the world; and introducing and appealing tourists to come to the land of heroic tradition and cultural characters with many distinct and lively folk festivals.

 

The first international fireworks contest held in Danang attracted hundreds of thousands of people domestically and internationally. It became the most important cultural event of the year of this riverbank city. Thanks to the contest's success, the Prime Minister has permitted Danang to hold the annual international fireworks contest. It can be said that this is the brand name for Danang, contributing to marketing the image of a self-motivated, youthful, and confident seaside town in the course of renovation and development; a safe and friendly destination for visitors from every place.

 

 

It is time to intensify the heat of the competition. On the 34^th anniversary of the city's liberalisation (March 29, 1975 - March 29, 2009), Danang will continue to hold the DIFC 2009 with five contestants from Australia, the Philippines, Spain, China, and Vietnam. The contest named "Han River Resounding" will take place on two nights March 27 and 28 and will be broadcasted live on VTV1, VTV4 and DVTV. Tran Van Minh - Chairman of Danang People's Committee, said at the press conference lobbying for the contest sponsorship: Apart from the Vietnamese host team, the other four teams are new and this is the first time they will participate in the DIFC 2009. As regulated by the organisation committee, aside from the host team, contestants who participated in the first festival must wait three years to register again. Similar to the DIFC 2008, DIFC 2009 is held with the sponsorship of local and international businesses, organisations, and individuals, not the state budget. Drawing lessons from the last contest, the Danang People's Committee kick-started the preparation activities since the third quarter of 2008 by establishing a Contest Organisation Committee with sub-committees for fund raising, advertising, finance, etc.

 

To date, the mobilising sub-committee has called for 31 donors with the total amount of more than VND10 billion. Hotels like Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza, Green Plaza, and Royal have offered to sponsor accommodations, and such airlines as Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airway, Silk Airlines, and Indochina Airlines also plan to support air tickets for contestants. The Department of Culture - Sports - Tourism is quickly implementing communication activities to advertise the event systematically and methodically. Ngo Quang Vinh - the Department's Director, said 20 huge screens would be placed along the riverbanks; the main stage would be installed lower so that the audience could watch the water fireworks more clearly. During the show, there would be many other activities to memorise the 34^th anniversary of the city's liberalisation: a flower boat parade, flower lantern floating, traditional boat race, eating and drinking festival, "Youth Gala" musical show, performance of bands and music and dance companies, dancing, hip-hop dance performance, Non Nuoc stone installation art gallery; and the programme of the Indian Arts Company. In addition, activities of tourism promotion are boosted strongly such as the upgrading of sightseeing destinations, association with other provinces and cities like Quang Nam, Hue, Hochiminh city, and Hanoi to arrange tour packages for local and international visitors, and Farm-trip programmes in Thailand, Korea, and Singapore.

 

Favorite destinations are taken into tour itineraries, for example Ba Na - Mo Spring, Ngu Hanh Son Mountain, Champa Museum, countryside, vocational villages, beautiful beaches and vacation resorts like Furama, Sandy Beach, Son Tra; “Exploring Danang”, “Hoi An - Hue Connection", water puppet show, folk song and music performance, extracts of classical drama at the Nguyen Hien Dinh Classical Drama Theatre; tourist and sports products: sea diving to watch corals, water motorbike, parachute service; tourist services: restaurants, hotels, shopping, entertainment, eating and drinking. On this occasion, the city also opens some new tours and routes to serve tourists and delegates, such as the new telpher system of Ba Na (from Mo Spring to Vong Nguyet Mount), new tourist route in Son Tra. It is known that like the year 2008, most hotels in Danang are fully booked during days of the DIFC 2009. This is good but predictable news for the hotel service industry!

 

With a series of activities to support DIFC 2009, visitors will definitely have opportunities to mix with the people and discover the lively and historical city during the last days of March.