HỘI AN — An outdoor concert performance and carnival will welcome in the new year in the ancient town of Hội An’s Sculpture Park on new year’s eve, the city’s Culture and Sports Centre said.

The year-end festival, which will last from 4pm on December 31^st to 1am on January 1^st, includes lantern decorations at restaurants in the old quarter and Nguyễn Phúc Chu street on the Hoài River bank.

Locals, expats and tourists will join a flash mob and hip-hop performance, while a final count down will be held at the stage in the run up to midnight along with fireworks.

The city will also celebrate the arrival of the two millionth tourist to Quảng Nam Province during the evening.

The UNESCO-recorgnised heritage city will host the first tourists visiting the city in New Year on January 1^st at the Japanese Bridge.

Gifts will be given to lucky tourists at the event.

On the occasion, Hội An will award the winners of the ‘Green Fence – My Village’s Beauty’ decoration contest, an event promoting greenery among households and home-stays.

Hội An has developed ecotourism in surrounding craft villages, such as carpentry in Kim Bồng village, mat weaving in Bàn Thạch village, fishing in Trà Nhiêu village, vegetable gardens in Trà Quế village, and farming in Triêm Tây village.

These old villages are favourite rendezvous for local and foreign tourists, featuring tranquil rural scenery and old trades.

This year, Hội An has hosted 2.6 million tourists, of which 1.3 million were foreigners, a 17.92 per cent increase in comparison to 2015. — VNS