A fireworks performance in the opening ceremony of the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival. Teams France and Canada will show off in the second night on June 10. Photo courtesy of Lê Lâm

ĐÀ NẴNG — Two teams Canada and France will continue the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival on the evening of June 10 with the theme Love Without Distance.

The two countries are both former champions of the annual festival in the central beach city.

Canada’s Davis Whysall won in 2008, while France’s Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010.

In the first opening performance on June 2, Việt Nam and Finland successfully launched fireworks on the Hàn River during the light-flooded party.  

Edouard Gregoire, leader of the France team, said: “When attending the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival 2023, we are honoured to receive great support from the Organiser. We are also very enthusiastic about the support at Novotel Hotel and the time spent in Bà Nà Hills, Hội An. We also really appreciate the friendliness of people in Đà Nẵng.”

Edouard Gregoire said France's team will bring impressive performances and choose music suitable for all ages for their performance.

“We want to emphasise understanding between people, about human connection with each other and with nature. That is also our theme - The Colour of Hope," he said.

"Let's live together on this planet more harmoniously. We also want to emphasise the friendship between the nations of the world.

The French team prepares fireworks on their launch pads at the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival. Photo courtesy of Global 2000

"France is a relatively new team, only 10 years old, but we have participated in many firework festivals around the world. This time in Đà Nẵng, we also have the determination to reach the top position, and have many opportunities to learn from our friends."

Alain Bouthillier, leader of the Canada team, said: “It brings us closer as a community as a country: Canada and Việt Nam getting closer. And what we are gonna try to do is to show you that Canada likes to celebrate the fact that we are not distant anymore. For me, a world without distance means that you know everybody around the world, all the people most of us are all the same.

“We all have the same desires, we all love our families, we all want to be happy and most of us I think want each other to be happy, and for me just being somewhere else with other people and seeing we are all kind of the same is a very good feeling and that what is meaningful to me 

“We expect to win - that’s for sure. All this year, all the companies that are here can win. I know all of these companies that are coming and it will be very difficult for the judge to make the choice of the two finalists. I think all of us have a chance but we will probably be the best.”

Members of the Canadian team get ready for their debut at the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival. Photo courtesy of Global 2000

He added: “I have done most of the festivals in the world, Đà Nẵng to me is one of the top-notch festivals in the world, they provide a lot of support. Coming from a country where it is very cold, we need to have very good support in hot weather.”  

More than 5,000 tourists enjoyed the opening ceremony and the city expects more visitors will be coming to Đà Nẵng for fireworks performances and culture from the UK, Italy, Poland, France, Australia, Canada, Finland and hosts Việt Nam. VNS