Italy clinches global fireworks competition

Show-off: The stunning fireworks performance by the Italian team on Monday night won the first prize in the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Duc

DA NANG — The Parente team from Italy won the fifth Da Nang International Fireworks Competition over the weekend with their colourful performance entitled Rainbow of Da Nang.

It's the second time in a row the Italian team has claimed the coveted title in the annual competition.

Teams from France and China shared second place, while Canada and host Viet Nam tied for third.

With over 32,000 spectators, the Italian team sparked the sky of cultural coastal city, lighting up the Han River for 23 minutes to put themselves on the victory podium for the second time. They introduced the performance with a crescendo of emotion with a music track, August's Rhapsody, composed by Mark Mancina. They closed their performance with purple, the colour of energy, vitality and calm.

The French team, Jacques Couturier, depicted the famous Marble Mountains of Da Nang, with sweet scents and romantic music.

On the opening night on Sunday, the Canadian team raise the curtain on their show to the strains of O Fortuna before lighting up the night with I Gotta Feeling, Dance of the Reeds and the Butterfly Lovers concerto.

The Vietnamese performance included 5,300 individual fireworks for a 23-minute show, while China's Liuyang dancing fireworks team told the story of Peach Blossom Valley on the Han River.

Canada's Davis Whysall won the first prize in 2008, while China's Liuyang Dancing team took the title in 2009. France's Jacques Couturier Organisation clinched the first prize in 2010.

According to the organising committee, the city saw about 400,000 tourists arrivals during the two-day festival. — VNS