According to the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a wide range of cultural and sporting activities will be held in the city over this coming weekend to celebrate National Day (2 September).

In detail, the Da Nang International Marathon Competition 2013, entitled “Da Nang - A Festival Day of the Sun and Sea”, will take place in the city on Sunday.

This year’s event, starting at 5am, will comprise 3 races: the full marathon (42.195km run), a half marathon (21.0975km run) and a 5km run and walk.  The race route will be Eastern Sea Park - Hoang Sa Street - Truong Sa Street - Nguyen Van Thoai Street - Tran Thi Ly Bridge - 2 September Street - Bach Dang Street - 3 February Street - Thuan Phuoc Bridge - Le Duc Tho Street - Hoang Sa Street - Eastern Sea Park.  Competitors in the full marathon will run this route twice.

The event is expected to attract about 3,000 foreign professional athletes, visitors, and local residents.

A traditional boat race on the Han River

In addition, a traditional boat race event will take place on the Han River on Monday.  Locals and visitors will be enchanted by thrilling demonstrations of canoeing, parachute surfing, and jet-skiing.

On the same day, the winners of the contest to write a song about Da Nang will be announced.  The contest was open to amateurs and professionals nationwide, and overseas Vietnamese.  It has helped to advertise the city’s image as well as the beauty of its land and people, along with its strengths and potentials.

Apart from the above-mentioned activities, the 18^th South Central Region and Highlands Fine Arts Exhibition will take place at the city’s Tien Son Sports Arena over this public holiday.  It features outstanding paintings and pieces of fine art by artists from Da Nang, Quang Ngai City, and the provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Kom Tum, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Quang Nam.