by Công Thành

Nadia Shakira Wong, director of Global 2000 Group, the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival (DIFF)’s consultancy, shares her emotions of the event in an interview at the fireworks launching area. Photo courtesy of DIFF

The Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is one of the most spectacular tourism events in central Việt Nam, being a magnet for the best fireworks producers from around the world since 2008. Nadia Shakira Wong, director of Global 2000 Group, the fireworks festival’s consultancy, shares with Việt Nam News reporter Công Thành her emotions about DIFF and what it means to her.

What’s special about the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival 2024?

After 12 years of working on this, I feel very different challenges at every fireworks festival. It’s very hard to make it different from year to year in terms of having a new programme and new faces among participating teams. This year’s DIFF witnessed young teams with extraordinary performances that audiences had never seen before.

Can you share efforts made by DIFF’s organising committee in attracting global audiences?

The festival’s organising committee always reserves the best endeavour in presenting the festival at a perfect level. We have had much investment in facilities to support all the participating teams, and it’s the reason teams keep coming back to the festival again and again.

In truth, DIFF is seen as one of the most attractive events for fireworks teams worldwide, and all teams are eager to join DIFF at least once.

Nadia Shakira Wong, director of Global 2000 Group (4th left) joins a photo session with Việt Nam-Đà Nẵng fireworks team in preparation for an official performance at DIFF. Photo courtesy of DIFF

DIFF 2024 is themed ‘Made in Unity’. How does this inspire the teams?

I think it’s one of the most interesting titles for the annual fireworks festival we have ever had in Đà Nẵng because it sends an easy-to-understand message about solidarity. All participating teams gather at the festival from different cultures and with different languages, but they can feel the spirit of unity from the bottom of their hearts.

The teams are opponents on the fireworks competition stage, but they behave as friends with strong nationality connections. DIFF helps build a close linkage among nations all over the world.

Do you think that the increase in fireworks quantity will make a change at DIFF 2024?

All teams bring an assigned number of fireworks to DIFF, but they have to use fireworks more than they expect. It’s because DIFF is really tough, and teams need an extraordinary difference in performances, such as fireworks launches close to the water.

Many teams, who had competed at DIFF in previous times, have learnt how to win the hearts of audiences through a series of simply amazing performances.

How do you feel about Đà Nẵng when you visit?

Đà Nẵng is a rapid urban growth area. I can see many changes after one year since I left last time. I feel that the local residents have great desires, and they want to be successful in life.

If I have a chance to live in Việt Nam, then Đà Nẵng would be a liveable location. Perhaps I should just say, I love the city so much. Đà Nẵng and DIFF are a deep part of my life. VNS