Da Nang will hold the third annual international fireworks competition next year to celebrate its 35th liberation day and the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi, formerly known as Thang Long.

Approved by the Prime Minister, the two day contest estimated to cost over US$465,000, will explode over the Han River on March 27.

Joe Ghazzal, director of Malaysian-owned Global 2000 Company, the festival consultant, said they have signed contracts with four famous competitors from US, Japan, France and Portugal.

The theme for the contest will be “the Legend of the Han River”.

The Da Nang People’s Committee will build a temporary 30,000-seat pavilion for people to watch the event, said Nguyen Van Can, chief of the committee’s office.

The income from selling tickets for the seats will be used to invest in the festival that was initiated in 2008, he said, adding that next year, they will not rent out places nearby to cooking and beverage services as done previously to give people more space to watch the event.

Local authorities have also decided to establish a Fireworks Fund that will invite foreign and local sponsorship as well as tap into other legal income sources. The fund will be used to organize the international competition as well as other celebratory fireworks display in the city.

VietNamNet/Thanh Nien