Nha Trang Commences Sea Festival Celebration
The Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2023 was inaugurated on Saturday evening in Nha Trang, an esteemed coastal city in south-central Vietnam. The festival, themed as 'Nha Trang – Aspiration for Development,' captivated tens of thousands of local and international attendees.
The opening ceremony took place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, the provincial capital of Khanh Hoa. The event, organized by the provincial People's Committee, spans four days and encompasses over 70 cultural and sporting activities.
Dinh Van Thieu, the deputy chairman of the Khanh Hoa administration, highlighted that this biennial festival, which originated in 2003, signifies both traditional and contemporary cultural values. Its objective is to preserve and promote the cultural essence of the nation as a whole, with a particular focus on Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa. Thieu conveyed this sentiment during the ceremony.
Moreover, the festival holds special significance as it coincides with the celebration of the 370th anniversary of the establishment and progress of Khanh Hoa (1653 – 2023). The organizing board emphasized that the event had been postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To commence this year's festival, the sky was adorned with thrilling displays of motorized paragliding, LED kites, and ten hot-air balloons featuring mesmerizing 3D effects. This spectacle brought joy and exhilaration to the multitude of spectators.
The centerpiece of the ceremony was an awe-inspiring light show featuring more than 1,600 drones. These drones artfully arranged themselves to create various words and captivating structures, including airborne formations, captivating a vast audience.
Following the drone light show, a five-minute fireworks exhibition unfolded, accompanied by intricate layers of sound and light effects.
Subsequently, a distinctive art and music program enchanted the attendees. Divided into two parts, namely 'Love Words of the Sea' and 'Sea – Development Potential,' this program commenced with a melodious ode to the coastal regions of the country, stretching from north to south, and paid homage to the Hoang Sa – Truong Sa archipelagos in the East Vietnam Sea.
Throughout the festival, visitors can partake in numerous captivating sports and cultural events. These include a fish-worshiping festival, a hip-hop club party, a fishing contest, a marathon race aptly named 'Run to Future,' captivating art and music performances, and an enthralling fashion show, among others.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, it is anticipated that approximately 100,000 visitors will grace Khanh Hoa during the festival.
In addition, the province is targeting a total of four million visitors, including 1.5 million foreigners, and a travel revenue of around VND 21 trillion (US$894.4 million) this year, as stated by the province's Department of Tourism. These objectives far surpass the figures recorded in 2022, with 2.57 million travelers and revenue of nearly VND 14 trillion ($596.2 million).
