HẢI PHÒNG — The northern port city of Hải Phòng will become vibrant again during the Hoa Phượng Đỏ (Red Flamboyant Flower) Festival to be held from Saturday to Monday.

A gala night called Hải Phòng Vươn Ra Biển Lớn, or Hải Phòng reaching out to the sea, is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Opera House Square in the city centre to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the city’s Liberation Day which falls on Sunday.

Particularly, the festival will also include a carnival parade and art performances by both domestic and foreign troupes.

A low-range display of fireworks will be organised during the opening ceremony of the festival on the first day.

Vice Chairman of the city’s people’s committee Lê Khắc Nam said this year’s event had received support from various sectors and companies in the city.

The official revealed at a press conference on April 18 that financial support worth about VNĐ7 billion (US$310,000) had been collected on the first day alone to launch a promotional campaign for the festival.

The annual cultural and tourism event was initiated in 2011, through the idea of showcasing the city’s abundant and beautiful flower blossoms, and to promote and boost tourism and enhance the image of Hải Phòng.

Over the last seasons, the Flamboyant Flower Festival has become a recognised festival of the port city, symbolising and praising its people and land.

Renowned as the city of flamboyant flower, Hải Phòng is a peaceful city of wide boulevards dovetailed with organised tree rows. As one of the important commercial and industrial hub in northern Việt Nam, the city is striving to make tourism a spearhead economic sector and turn itself into one of the nation’s key tourism destinations.

According to the municipal People’s Committee’s action programme on tourism development from 2017–2020 with a vision through 2030, the city hopes to receive 8 million tourists and earn VNĐ3.5 trillion (US$154 million) with expected annual average growth rates of between 8.2 per cent and 8.9 per cent. — VNS