The 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is not only a festival of lights but also the most anticipated event after 3 years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the theme " Peace for Humanity" opening a series of 5 fireworks nights lasting from June 2 to July 8, the opening night of the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival painted a vivid picture of friendship, solidarity and peace, taking the audience on a sublime journey of masterpieces of light, music and art.

After 3 years of waiting, today the audience saw the sky and the Han River as one, when the "opening firework" between the Da Nang - Vietnam fireworks team and the JoHo Pyro - Finland team took place. While the host team Vietnam told the story of peace and friendship through the theme "Da Nang - the sound of peace", Finland expressed strong emotions and love for life in the theme "Starting the heart".

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Chairman of Sun Group Central Region, the first highlight of this year's fireworks festival is the theme "World without distance" to honor the strong recovery of world tourism after the pandemic. In this year's 8 competing teams, in addition to the two Italian and Finnish teams that performed in the previous season, there are 5 competing teams that promise to have explosive performances, including: England, France, Canada, Australia, Poland.

Another highlight of this year's festival is the modern stage, with water music and designs depicting bright fireworks. In particular, on the stage there will be performances from artists from 25 countries and famous Vietnamese artists. High-tech systems are also equipped to bring many surprises in terms of sight and sound to the audience with more than 5,000 seats. The opening night on June 2 and the closing night on July 8 will be broadcast live on VTV1. The remaining competition nights will be broadcast live on Da Nang City Television.

The Da Nang Fireworks Team, with the most extensive experience in 11 international fireworks festivals, brought the audience a more than satisfying start with 4,500 fireworks of all kinds and over 128 different color effects. The start of the performance was a delicate combination of music and fireworks, with a gentle rhythm through the sound of "Han Giang's Heart", designed to evoke emotions and awaken the senses of the audience.

Moving into the second part, the team changed direction and introduced vibrant music and vivid fireworks effects, demonstrating the resilience and determination of the people of Da Nang in overcoming the challenges caused by the pandemic. The highlight of the performance was the third part, with the intensity of the fireworks reaching its peak, blooming, creating the image of hundreds of clusters of fireworks connecting like intertwined arms, representing the tightening of friendship between peoples around the world.

When the passionate sounds of rock music arose, the Han River sky exploded with shimmering waterfalls of light in a colorful symphony from Finland's JoHo Pyro team, creating mesmerizing beams of light patterns. If Finland came to Da Nang at the 2019 International Fireworks Festival to tell the story of the voyage of the residents of the cold Northern European seas, then in 2023, their story will tell another special journey, the journey back to the "new normal" life after the Covid-19 pandemic. With diverse fireworks techniques, each fireworks beat was perfectly choreographed with layered rays of light, in harmony with the powerful rock sound, taking the audience through the "ups and downs" of emotions like the past 3 difficult years, and then bursting into sublimation when the pandemic passed, the world was close together again as if there had never been isolation.

Ms. Cao Kim Dung, a tourist from Nong Trang ward, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province, could not hide her emotions: "It is truly a festival night by the Han River. This is not only a competition festival of artists, beautiful fireworks displays, but also a message of peace and love for each other. I hope there will be more meaningful festivals like Da Nang has done, to further spread the value of life."

Indeed, watching the entire opening night of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, we all realized that the focus of both the Vietnamese and Finnish teams' performances was to convey the message of peace and happiness, bringing the audience joyful and contemplative emotions. The rhythm of the fireworks bursting into the sky seemed to match the heartbeat of many hearts watching DIFF, urging unity and a shared vision of a peaceful future.

The applause resounded after the last fireworks of the Finnish team lit up the sky of Da Nang, ending the emotional opening night of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023. And the audience and visitors are eagerly waiting for the next fireworks night (June 10) which is even more impressive, between the two teams Canada - France with the theme "Love without borders".

Ms. Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City, Head of the Jury of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023, said that during the 3 summer months of 2023, many attractive festivals will take place simultaneously in Da Nang, such as: Lantern Festival, B'estival Food and Beer Festival, Korean Cultural Festival, French Cultural Festival... at Sun World Ba Na Hills or Korean Festivals at Asia Park. This is a series of festivals to honor attractive destinations across the country, while promoting Vietnamese tourism to the world.

Here are some photos from the opening night of the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival:

The art program to welcome the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is presented by famous artists and actors from Vietnam and the world.
Vietnamese artists on opening night
Vietnamese dancers were jubilant at the festival.
Many international artists shined on the opening night of the 2023 Da Nang International Lotus Festival.
International dancers sublimate in a "symphony of light" by the Korean River (Da Nang).
Thousands of spectators came to the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival.
Performance of the Vietnam team.
Colorful lights on the Han River.
Message of peace and hospitality from the Vietnamese people.
Eye-catching performance by Vietnam fireworks team.
Resurrecting vitality after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Outstanding performance by the Finnish team.
Sparkling colors on the poetic Han River.
The Finnish team's sparkling fireworks display.
The defending champion brought the audience a range of emotions.

Article and photos: NGUYEN HONG SANG