VŨNG TÀU — The Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Province Sea Festival kicked off on Tuesday nightlast night at Vũng Tàu City.

The festival, themed ‘Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, Khát Vọng Tình Yêu và Biển Cả’ (Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, Aspiration for Love and Sea), is the province’s way of celebrating the country’s 73rd National Day on September 2.

Nguyễn Văn Trình, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said at the opening ceremony, that “The province has potential for developing a sea economy, focusing on tourism. This year, the number of visitors to the province increased 20-25 per cent. Total revenue from hosting services reached VNĐ1.781 trillion (US$76.6 million), a year-on-year increase of 11.6 per cent.”

“The festival, with 17 activities, will provide solutions to turn tourism into the province’s key economic sector by 2020. The festival is also an important event to introduce the province’s achievements in tourism and sea economy, and seek cooperation with domestic and foreign investors,” said Trình.

The festival has attracted more than 400 businesses and cultural organisations from 26 provinces and cities to participate in 17 economic, cultural and sports activities during the seven-day event.

A trade fair with 843 stalls will be set up to introduce the province’s achievements and potential in economics, culture and society, especially in the fields of tourism, ports, logistics and hi-tech agriculture.

The fair will also showcase products and promote cooperation between businesses in industry, agriculture, trade and services in the province and neighbouring provinces.

Several seminars and workshops on trade and tourism promotion, as well as environmental protection, will be organised

The festival will feature an outdoor electronic dance music concert titled “Sea Run” with pop star Sơn Tùng M-TP, a kite performance, and a beer festival.

A carnival and a parade of classic Vespa scooters will also take place.

Exhibitions will be organised to showcase calligraphy works, orchid flowers and sand statues.

Around 500,000 visitors are expected during the festival, which will end on September 3. — VNS