In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ho An Phong emphasised that it is not only an international cultural and entertainment event but also an occasion to celebrate the natural beauty, culture, and people of the beach city. The festival presents an opportunity to showcase a peaceful, developing, and culturally rich Vietnam to the international community, he noted.
The deputy minister expressed his belief that it would help Khanh Hoa achieve its goal of serving 9 million visitors as planned this year.
The festival takes place on July 13 and July 20 nights. The opening night featured the first drone light show competition between teams from the Republic of Korea and China under the theme "Glamour Nha Trang." In addition, there was a musical performance by young Vietnamese singers.
The second night, themed "Night of the Wonders", will see a competition between those from France and the UAE and will conclude with a closing ceremony at Vinpearl Harbour on Hon Tre Island in Nha Trang Bay.
According to the provincial Department of Tourism, the event is expected to attract over 50,000 residents and visitors each night. The department reported that hotels and resorts in the city have already achieved an average occupancy rate of over 80% during the festival period.
Khanh Hoa aims to welcome 9 million visitors, including 3 million foreigners, and targets tourism revenue of approximately VND40 trillion (US$1.6 billion) this year.
