Italy performs a fireworks display at the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival. The team will compete in the final with France on July 8. Photo courtesy of DIFF

ĐÀ NẴNG — France and Italy have qualified for the final performance at the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival (DIFF), the jury announced on June 25.

The festival’s organisers said the jury board carefully deliberated the two best performances among the eight teams present, with the final decision given to France and Italy.

The Italian team will perform first on the final night, followed by France, launching fireworks over the Hàn River on July 8.

Cash prizes for the winning teams include US$20,000 for first place and $10,000 for the runner-up team.

Two innovation prizes, as well as an audience favourite, will also win $3,000 each.

The festival's hosts, Việt Nam and Finland, competed in the curtain-raiser on June 3, while France and Canada showed off their skills on June 10. Australia and Italy continued on the third night on June 17, while the UK and Poland competed in the fourth night on June 24.

France launches fireworks over the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng. Photo courtesy of DIFF

The last iteration of the festival was in 2019 saw victory for Finland’s Joho Pyro Fireworks. It was the most successful performance so far, with more than one million visitors over the course of the event.

Canada’s Davis Whysall took the top prize in 2008, while China’s Liuyang Dancing won in 2009. France’s Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010.

Italy’s Martarello won the title twice in 2017 and 2018 after another Italian team, Parente Fireworks, doubled in 2011 and 2012.

The US team Melrose Pyrotechnics took the first spot in 2013, while the Australian Howard&Sons Pyrotechnics clinched the title in 2015.

Đà Nẵng is the only place in Việt Nam to have hosted a fireworks festival, making it a magnet for the best fireworks producers around the world each year since 2008. — VNS