The fifth Sea Festival 2011, themed “Nha Trang – The Sea Rendezvous” opened in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on June 11.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan underlined that with a coastal line of over 3,260 km, Vietnam makes efforts to become a strong country from marine resources, as set under the country’s Sea Strategy until 2020.

He urged localities to unite with Khanh Hoa province to promote seas’ potentials, serving socio-economic development and ensuring national security and sovereignty.

The six-day event will feature 60 cultural and sports programs, including a bathing festival, music performances, a seminar on developing bird’s nests in the central coastal region, a photo exhibition on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, as well as display of Truong Sa map made from coffee beans.

Initiated in 2003, the event is organized every two years, aiming to honor the strength of Vietnam’s seas and beauty of Nha Trang bay – one of the world’s 35 most beautiful bays.

As part of the event, on June 12, the Nha Trang city People’s Committee and the provincial agricultural sector released almost 400,000 prawns and 7,500 fish to help enrich natural resources for Nha Trang bay.

The opening ceremony:

PV