Sea festival begins in blaze of colour

Online Travel Vietnam: Fireworks and dances began the fifth Sea Festival in Nha Trang city on Saturday night.

More than 1,000 artists and pop stars took part in the start of the five-day festival in Khanh Hoa Province, themed Nha Trang, Rendezvous by the Sea.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said at the opening ceremony that the festival helped promote benefits of the sea.

He said coastal provinces and cities should co-operate to develop sea tourism as well as protecting the marine environment.

"All of us have a responsibility to preserve and promote the sea's potential and protect Viet Nam's sea and island sovereignty," Nhan said.

Many activities took place in the lead-up to the festival, such as fishing and night sea trips, bathing, national beach sepak takraw competition and a seminar on Marine Conservation.

Taking place every two years since 2003, the festival was also aimed at respecting Nha Trang Bay, said Le Xuan Than, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee, head of the festival organising board.

This year's festival would last until June 15, two days shorter than usual but the quality and scale had been improved, Than said.

"It's expected the festival will attract more that 100,000 visitors. My message is please help protect the sea environment and the sea and island sovereignty and promote the advantages the sea brings us," Than said.

It will be the second festival for one of the performers Nha Trang resident Tran Thuy Dung, 22.

"Our group of 70 students practised for nearly a month and had a week to together with other groups to get familiar with the stage," she said.

"All of us tried to keep discipline and concentrate."

As for the response of tourists in Nha Trang: "Wonderful place, wonderful people" were common remarks.

A Russian tourist said she came to Nha Trang city for business but decided to stay longer for the festival.

"I have different activities to join in, not only swimming and sun bathing," the tourist said.

Over the following days, activities will include a street carnival, dance and music programmes, including artists from South Korea, China, France and Cuba, closing at a ceremony on Wednesday night.

Schedule of events ä Remote controlled planes at 2/4 Square and Nha Trang Beach, 8am, June 13 ä Vietnamese High Quality Products Fair at Youth Park, Tran Phu St, until June 15 ä Flavour of Thai Nguyen Tea Festival, at Coastal Park, Pham Van Dong St, until June 15 ä Vietnamese and French movies presentation at Mini-cinema, 10 Hoang Hoa Tham St, until June 15 ä Paramotors: Demonstration of motorised aircraft at Coastal Park, until June 15 ä Fashion Show on stage opposite Tue Tinh St, 8pm, June 13 ä Street Parade at 2/4 Square, 8pm, June 13 ä Parade of Volkswagen classic cars on Tran Phu St, June 13-14 ä A taste of cross culture: musical performances, photography discussion and friendly exchanges with French artists from Morbihan Province at Nha Trang Teachers Training College and Nha Trang University, June 13-15 ä Poetry Festival at Ponagar Tower, 8am, June 14 ä Hip hop performances on stage opposite Tue Tinh St, 8pm, June 14-15 ä Underwater group wedding ceremony at Hon Mun Preserve, 8am, June 15.

Source: VNS