This year’s event, titled ‘Stories by the River’, will see teams describing the beauty and culture of typical rivers in their countries during the month-long festival.

ĐÀ NẴNG — Việt Nam got off to a poor start at the opening ceremony of the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival on Saturday, disappointing thousands of home fans on the Hàn River.

The music arranged for the showcase seemed to conflict with the 20-minute display.

Smoke also tarnished the host’s display, with people saying it was the worst they had seen since the city debuted the festival in 2008.

The team from Russia, who were taking part in the festival for the first time, combined a loving melody with a colourful range of fireworks on the Hàn River.

Đà Nẵng-born diva Mỹ Tâm and singer Trọng Tấn sparked off the fireworks festival with songs espousing the beauty river in Đà Nẵng and the Volga River in Russia during the opening ceremony.

An the International Food Festival is also being held from June 2-6, along with street carnivals.

Dancers and artists from the Ukraine, Cuba, Columbia and Brazil will be showing off at the Sunshine Dance Festival at Sun World’s Bà Nà Hills from May 31 through September 30 with two performances every day.

The fireworks festival will feature teams from Russia, Brazil, Belgium, Finland, England, China, Italy and Việt Nam from June 1 to July 7.

This year’s event, titled ‘Stories by the River’, will see teams describing the beauty and culture of typical rivers in their countries during the month-long festival.

Brazil and Belgium will take the stage on June 8.

Three-time champions Italy and Finland will play the third night on June 15, while England and China will perform on June 22.

The top two teams will be selected for the final on July 6.

Last year, Italy’s Martarello clinched the title for the third time.

According to the organisers, the fireworks festival drew more than 1.5 million tourists last year. — VNS