A pilot soars over a mountain in central Việt Nam. Around 100 fliers from clubs nationwide and foreign countries will compete in the Quảng Ngãi Open Paragliding Championship on Lý Sơn Island, off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province, on June 20-24. VNS Photo Dương Hiển Hoàng

LÝ SƠN ISLAND Around 100 paragliders from clubs nationwide and foreign countries will compete in the Quảng Ngãi Open Paragliding Championship on Lý Sơn Island off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province on June 20-24.

Director of the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism department Nguyễn Minh Trí said this will be the first time the province has hosted a paragliding event on the island.

He said it will draw pilots from Vietwings Hà Nội; Đông Bắc club, News Sky, Đà Nẵng, HCM City and teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Japan and Indonesia.

Pilots will take off from a point on Thới Lới Mountain, 170m above sea level, and land on the runaway of Lý Sơn heliport.

There will be qualifying rounds and and a final over the course of two day for cash prizes totalling VNĐ50 million.

The organisers said the championship aims to promote the culture and geology of the Island as the province prepares for the recognition of Lý Sơn-Sa Huỳnh Geo-Park.

Lý Sơn Island was created from volcanic eruptions 25 to 30 million years ago, leaving landscapes with caves, cliffs, rock arches and a lake.

A view of Lý Sơn Island from Thới Lới Mountain. VNS Photo Công Thành

The island, known as the "Kingdom of Garlic" in Việt Nam, is a tranquil destination with 21,000 inhabitants, most of whom make their living from farming garlic and spring onions and fishing. It hosts more than 200,000 tourists each year. VNS