Primed and ready: Canadian team members prepare their individual fireworks for the 2012 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition at the Han River Port. The team will light up their fireworks on the opening day of the annual two-day event tomorrow. — VNS Photo Hoai Nam

DA NANG — All five teams of the fifth Da Nang International Fireworks Competition have prepared their annual performance, which will kick off tomorrow.

This year there will be teams from Canada, France, China, Italy and, of course, Viet Nam. The launching sites for all five teams will be on the Han River Port, along Bach Dang Street.

David Whysall, the captain of the Canadian team said: "This year I think the competition is pretty fierce. We arrived in Da Nang five days ago to get ready for this fifth annual show."

He expressed confidence, saying, "Even though this is only the second time we've participated, I believe we are ready for this year's competition." He added that the team hoped that the weather for the two-day competition would be conducive to their performance.

This year the Canadian team has entitled their exhibition as Ignite the Night, which will take place on the opening day.

The name of the entire competition this year is Colourful Da Nang, which will feature several fireworks performances that will feature experts in the craft from all corners of the world.

The Chinese team will actually tell a story involving a valley of peach blossoms. The French will visually depict the marble mountains in colour.

The feature of the Italian team will be called the Rainbow of Da Nang. Last year it was Italy's turn to take the coveted title.

The city's admi-nistration has urged preparations for the annual two-day fireworks festival.

According to organising committee, nearly 23,000 tickets will be sold, estimated at a total of 30,000 over the two nights. These funds have already been allocated by officials from the cities of Da Nang, Ha Noi and HCM City.

A 32,000-seat stage has been set up on Tran Hung Dao Street, just opposite of another main road, Bach Dang.

Hotels in the city have an estimated capacity of 9,000 rooms and 11,000 rooms in neighbouring Hoi An of Quang Nam Province and Lang Co Township in Hue City, are bracing for a large number of tourists.

The city also has levied strict punishments on 44 hotels who raised their international rates for booking.

At a recent press conference, Vo Duy Khuong, deputy chairman of Da Nang City's People Committee, said the city allowed hotels increase the room price by up to 30 per cent more than fixed prices.

During the fireworks show the city also plans to host a number of cultural activities in order to lead up to the event, including flower releasing in the Han River, a culinary fair, stone art installation and a procession of flowers on the river bank.

According to festival's organising committee, the city will host about 400,000 tourists during the fireworks festival. — VNS