Twelve vehicles decorated with or covered in flowers will participate in flower parades during the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2018 slated for April 29^th-June 30^th in the central coastal city of Da Nang.

An artist’s impression of a Vietnamese flower float which represents the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang. (Photo: Nhan Tam)

The flower floats will travel at an average speed of 15 kilometers per hour on the route: Asia Park – Hai Thang Chin Street – Bach Dang Street – Ba Thang Hai Street – Thuan Phuoc Bridge – Le Duc Tho Street – Hoang Sa Street – Vo Nguyen Giap Street – Nguyen Van Thoai Street – Tran Thi Ly Bridge – 2/9 Street – Asia Park.

The parades will take place on May 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, June 16^th, 17^th, 23^rd, and 24^th, with each lasting two hours and a half.

The flower floats will represent famous bridges of the countries and territories such as Long Bien, Han River, Dragon, Tran Thi Ly and Thuan Phuoc bridges in Vietnam, Swietokrzyski Bridge in Poland, Tournelle Bridge in France, Brooklyn Bridge in the U.S., Rialto Bridge in Italy, Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong, Oresund Bridge in Sweden, and 25 de Abril Bridge in Portugal.

In addition from street parade, side events like certain new activities are expected to bring more excitement and colour to the DIFF this year.

SEVEN INTERNATIONAL TEAMS

Seven international teams, including three coming for the first time, and the host will compete in the 2018 DIFF.

In addition to France, the U.S., Italy and Portugal, the event will see debutants Surex Firma Rodzinna from Poland, Vulcan Display Fireworks from Hong Kong, and GFF from Sweden.

The makeshift stages can accommodate more spectators than last year. Each of them will have a large LED screen for the spectators to see the fireworks displays.

The ninth annual event will have the theme “The Legends of Bridges” and feature stories about well-known bridges.

Fireworks over the Han River in Da Nang in 2015. (VNS file Photo)

Ticket will range from VND 50,000 (USD 2.2) per night for children less than a metre tall to VND 2 million (about USD 88) for each of the opening and final nights, the organisers said.

The contest will take place on the banks of the Han River. The main stages will be on Tran Hung Dao Street and in the yard of Olalani Riverside Towers.

Vietnam and Poland will perform on April 29^th, France and the U.S. on May 26^th, Italy and Hong Kong on June 2^nd, and Sweden and Portugal on June 9^th.

The finals and awards ceremony are slated for June 30^th./.

VNF