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A hot-air balloon shaped like a cat in Binh Thuan Province - Photo: Khai Nguyen
Binh Thuan Province will host the first Vietnam International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (VIHABF) 2012 in Phan Thiet City from August 29 to September 3.
The event offers a chance for tourists to admire hot-air balloon performances and join related activities such as contests on flying hot-air balloons, paragliders and art kites.
Ngo Minh Chinh, director of Binh Thuan Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the festival will feature 20 hot-air balloons imported from Asian countries, including 15 flying balloons and five grounded balloons that are mere decoration for tourists.
Each balloon can accommodate four people and tourists can take in a panoramic view of Binh Thuan Province from a height of 20 kilometers in the air.
Around 50 international balloonists from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, U.K., U.S., China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and of course Vietnam will take part in the festival, performing in hot-air balloons in different shapes and sizes, reports VietnamPlus.
The festival also includes a trade and tourism fair, a musical show, and a glowing night show, in which the balloons will be decorated with lanterns and dance in the air with a musical background, and street art performances.
On September 1 evening, the city will host a street festival as well as a fireworks display on Vietnam National Day 24 hours later.
Chinh added that the event will be hosted annually to diversify tourist products and to bolster local tourism.
The event, held by Binh Thuan Province’s People’s Committee and HCMC-based Chien Thang Service Co., Ltd, aims to celebrate the 67th anniversary of Vietnam National Day and the 20th anniversary of the province’s re-establishment.
From January to June Binh Thuan has welcomed 1.63 million tourists, up 14.42% year-on-year and earned total revenue of VND2.24 trillion from tourism.
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