One competitor, Chinese fireworks manufacturer Liuyang Dancing, will employ its wireless firing technology used at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics last year.

Designer and composer Liu Yongzhang says his display will tell a Chinese tale about a boy and a girl who find true love by protecting their growing affection against old-fashioned ideals.

A company spokesman says the performance, scheduled to take exactly 21 and a half minutes, will be a clear demonstration of Liuyang Dancing’s leadership in fireworks technology.

Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics from Australia will stage what it claims will be the world’s most memorable display.

The 87-year-old fireworks manufacturing giant with an impressive resume of 40 international performances and prizes to its credit will put on a 21-minute show.

Its “Southern Star” extravaganza will treat the audience to a colorful mixture of fireworks and symphonic, rock and Australian tribal music.

Also competing will be Spain’s Pirotecnia Zamorano Caballer, which presented fireworks at the coronation of Britain’s Elizabeth II decades ago.

With more than 20 top prizes from international fireworks competitions under its belt, the Spanish company is confident of wowing the crowd with its “Melody of Happiness” display.

Da Nang, on the central coast, will also be fielding a team, albeit one inexperienced in theatrical pyrotechnics.

“We’re competing mainly to learn from the others,” said a spokesman for the local team. “But rest assured we will give it our best shot.”

Reported by Nguyen The Thinh