StarWorld, National Geographic and BBC World – Asia Zone will broadcast the competition. Viet Nam News will sponsor the event. — Photo nguoiduatin

DA NANG (VNS)  — Five teams from South Africa, Australia, Poland, the US and Viet Nam will perform in the 2015 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition on April 28 and 29.

This is the first time the event has hosted teams from five continents over the course of two nights, the organising committee said last Friday at a press conference.

"We are hosting the biggest fireworks competition in Viet Nam since 2008," said Huynh Duc Tho, the newly elected chairman of the city's people's committee.

For the seventh event, the organising committee raised VND26 billion (US$1.2 million) from 40 businesses, Tho said. It would help boost the city's reputation as a tourism hotspot in the central region and draw large crowds, he said. About 500,000 tourists are expected to visit during the fireworks competition, taking place on the banks of the Han River.

The event will also mark the 40th anniversary of the country's Reunification Day on April 30 and the city's Liberation Day on March 29. It was held annually until 2013, but now will be held biennially.

Fireworks for Africa, the first team to perform this year, will face off against the US's team, Pyrotecnico, and Viet Nam on the opening night.

Australia's team, Howard and Sons, which ranked third in the 2009 competition, will compete with Poland's Surex Firma Rodzinna during the second night.

The organising committee will offer tickets for three different prices, depending on how close the seats are: VND500,000 ($23.8), VND400,000 ($19) and VND300,000 ($14.2).

The city also hired Global 2000, a company from Malaysia, to advise and provide technical assistance.

The fireworks will be launched from Han River Port, as usual.

StarWorld, National Geographic and BBC World – Asia Zone will broadcast the competition. Viet Nam News will sponsor the event.

In 2013, the US team Melrose Pyrotechnics won first place. Canada's Davis Whysall took the top prize in 2008, while China's Liuyang Dancing won in 2009. France's Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010, and Italy's Parente won twice in 2011 and 2012. — VNS