Viet Nam News
BA RIA – VUNG TAU — A kite performance by foreign and Vietnamese artisans opened the annual International Kite Festival in the coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on Friday.
Nguyen Thanh Long, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said: “The festival is a signature event to promote cultural connections between the Vietnamese and people from other countries.”
“It is also a chance to promote the country’s tourism and attract more visitors to Vung Tau,” he added.
The three-day festival, with the theme of Vu Dieu Hoa Binh (Dance of Peace), attracted 64 kite artisans and connoisseurs from 23 countries and territories, including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Sweden and Singapore.
Nearly 30 artisans from Viet Nam’s big kite clubs, such as Phuong Hoang of HCM City and Dieu Hue of Hue City, are also taking part in the event.
The artisans will fly both traditional and modern kites, including a traditional six-sided Japanese fighter kite called Rokkaku and a Vietnamese kite with bamboo flutes.
Huge kites with the shapes of human figures from New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland will also be featured.
Vietnamese artisans will present a kite performance called Con Chau Rong Tien (Descendants of the Dragon and Fairy), which won top prize at the Borneo International Kite Festival in Malaysia in October.
Several kite performances will take place on the beautiful beaches of Vung Tau City during the festival, while a special night show with sound and lights will be held today at Vung Tau Paradise Golf course.
Workshops for kite-making and kite flying for children and teenagers will also be held, as well as a food festival to promote traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Local art troupes and neighbouring provinces will present music and dance performances to entertain visitors. — VNS