The first hot balloon festival is organised in Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province, on September 1-2. — VNA/VNS Photos

QUẢNG NINH — Quảng Ninh Province has attracted the attention of thousands of national tourists, hosting the first ever hot balloon festival on September 1-2 in Hạ Long City.

Entitled Heritage City - Colours of Hạ Long, the festival is one of activities to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2 and 30 years since Hạ Long Bay was recognised as a UNESCO's World Natural Heritage site.

A large national flag is carried on the sky during the festival's opening ceremony.

Visitors were treated to an art performance and a hot air balloon carrying a 100sq.m-wide national flag to officially open the festival at the October 30 Square.

Meanwhile at the nearby Sun Carnival Square, many balloons were available for visitors to discover the world-famous bay from the sky.

A technician kicks off the fire to fly the hot balloon.

The event is part of a drive for it to be recognised as 'Hạ Long - City of Festivals', creating many attractive tourism products across the city and more widely, to promote the cultural and heritage legacy to the domestic and international visitors, hoping they will return for the next festivals.

Nguyễn Ngọc Sơn, deputy chairman of Hạ Long City People's Committee, said that at the festival, there were 20 hot air balloons of different colours and sizes on display and for tourists to fly in.

Tourists queue up waiting for their turn to ride on the colourful hot balloons.

As well as riding on and checking out the hot air balloons, there were many other diverse activities organised, including a lantern night with the balloons and paramotor performance.

He said through the festival, the authority hoped to bring local people and tourists impressive experiences and offer an unforgettable trip across the city, revealing the beautiful and majestic space of both the city and the bay.

The first visitors experience their time in the sky flying with the balloons.

Visitors were promised a vibrant and exciting space with the flower lantern nights, with hot air balloon light shows and music and art parties, he added.

Nguyễn Hương Giang, a visitor from Nghệ An Province, said she felt lucky and happy with her decision to choose Hạ Long for her family for the holiday.

A tourist takes photos with a hot balloon and check-in the festival.

The hot balloon festival is part of a promotion to sell Quảng Ninh's tourism and Hạ Long's beauty to a larger number of people.

During the holiday season, Hạ Long City and Quảng Ninh Province will be organising many cultural and sporting events. These activities are expected to provide tourists the best experiences and memories during their break.

Organisers hope that by delivering attractive and unique images, visitors themselves will share their photos and promote tourism products to friends both at home and overseas. — VNS