Besides the title “city of bridges”, Da Nang is also known as “Viet Nam’s fireworks city” thanks to the more-than-a-decade journey of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) that has created a significant tourism draw.

The brilliant fireworks in the sky of Da Nang seem to connect tens of thousands of people and tourists closer together. Photo: HUYNH VAN TRUYEN

More than a decade of lighting up the Han River

Over the past 17 years with 12 times of organisation, DIFF has always been the focus of every summer when people mention Da Nang. This period of time is also long enough for every tourist and Da Nang resident to witness and feel the impressive change of the city. From a gathering place of poor fishing villages, stilt houses, the Han River, the annual venue of DIFF, has risen to transform strongly into a poetic river, a river of light... DIFF is one of the reasons why the number of visitors to Da Nang is constantly increasing year after year.

In 2008, the first year of DIFC (Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, the predecessor of DIFF), Da Nang welcomed more than 1.2 million tourists, earning more than VND810 billion in revenue. Those who were present along the banks of the Han River at that time surely could not forget the feeling of “holding their breath” when the first fireworks flew into the night sky accompanied by highly-inviting melodies. For the first time in Viet Nam, tourists were able to watch fireworks displays in a competitive format and with a meaningful theme.

From ‘Dance of the Fairy’, DIFF has created a decade of fireworks for the Da Nang tourism, becoming an indispensable spice whenever mentioning the city of the Han River. 2017 marked a memorable milestone when the Da Nang People’s Committee assigned the Sun Group to organise with the expectation of creating a strong impression for Da Nang and affirming DIFF as a ‘must-see festival’ for friends from all over the world. Themed ‘Shining Marble Mountains’ and naming the fireworks nights according to each natural element, the opening night of the fireworks display at that time was considered to be the most magnificent in scale since DIFF made its debut.

With investment in both technology and performance techniques, the host fireworks team on the opening night brought an eye-catching performance to the accompanying music with many climaxes and the traditional festival drum beats of the Vietnamese people. Da Nang underwent a “sleepless” night with the colours of thousands of the fireworks.

Sometimes the whole sky of Da Nang seemed to be lit up by the bright and vibrant red fireworks; sometimes they were gentle and delicate with white and metallic colours.

Explaining the role of the fireworks festival in the development of local tourism, Nadia Shakira Wong, Director of the consulting company Global 2000, the event producer of DIFF, for many years, said: “The role of the fireworks festival is to stimulate demand and bring many more tourists to the destination of Da Nang. When organising the annual fireworks festival, people will know in advance and plan periodically. In addition, tourism units are also very important, for example, launching combo packages of fireworks tickets combined with cruises”.

In 2019, Da Nang welcomed 8.6 million tourists, with revenue reaching nearly VND31,000 billion, an increase of 38 times after more than 10 years of organizing DIFF.

According to statistics, in more than one month of DIFF 2019, the number of visitors to Da Nang reached nearly 1 million, with revenue from the commercial tourism industry reaching over VND3,245 billion.

Hotel room occupancy during the festival always reaches 65 - 70%, especially 4 - 5 star hotels, with occupancy reaching 75 - 85%. DIFF has created a strong driving force for commercial and service activities, while creating more jobs and income for local residents and businesses during the event.

In 2024, the most recent event, with the support of businesses and the strong participation of local authorities, DIFF continues to be a magnet attracting visitors to Da Nang.

According to data from the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the total number of visitors served by tourist accommodation establishments during the five days of DIFF 2024 reached 360,662 (an increase of 12% compared to DIFF 2023), comprising of 138,037 international visitors (an increase of 33% over the same period) and 222,625 domestic ones (an increase of 2% over the same period).

The number of visitors served by tourist accommodation establishments over more than 1 month of DIFF 2024 reached more than 1.5 million, up by 60% compared to DIFF 2023.

With a large number of visitors during more than a month of DIFF 2024, Da Nang tourism recorded a significant increase in revenue. Revenue from accommodation, catering and travel services in June 2024 hit VND16,344 billion, up 28.2% over the same period in 2023. These are truly dream numbers for many destinations.

DIFF with its performances combining top-notch light and sound has become an exclusive brand product of Da Nang. Photo: HUYNH VAN TRUYEN

Da Nang's unique brand

Speaking at the closing ceremony of DIFF 2024, Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh affirmed that DIFF is one of the events that conveys many dreams and hopes of the city’s people: "Held since 2008, the DIFF has become an event with its own unique and attractive brand of Da Nang city. With brilliant fireworks displays lighting up the sky, we will think of joy, good things and hopes. Throughout the development journey, the Party Committee, government and people of Da Nang have always cherished and strived to realize the dream of building and developing the city into a peaceful, prosperous and happy city".

This year, DIFF 2025 promises to have many improvements compared to previous years, to increasingly affirm the attraction and value of the most typical event of Da Nang. According to the organizers, famous music programmes are expected to be brought to DIFF. If this becomes a reality, DIFF 2025 will not only be a fireworks display, but also a “playground” for leading art events in the country, and even internationally in the future.

Many experts predict that DIFF 2025 will continue to set a record for the number of visitors to Da Nang this summer, as 2025 is also the year marking an important milestone, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Da Nang. Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, predicted that the number of international visitors will increase by about 20 - 25%, while that of domestic visitors will climb by about 10%. “DIFF promises to continue to be a magnet, helping to rapidly increase the number of domestic and foreign travelers”, Mr. Dung affirmed.

It is believed that after the famous events expected to be launched at DIFF are officially announced as well as the international fireworks complex project is completed, the festival will continue to increase its fame. DIFF will not only be a fireworks festival, a unique brand of Da Nang, but in the future will be a playground for all the most famous events.

Reporting by MINH NGOC - Translating by A.THU