The 21^st Bup Sen Hong (Pink Lotus Bud) Festival for Children from the Southern Region is taking place in Da Nang from 22 to 25 July.  Organised by the municipal Youth Union, this year’s event takes ‘The Han River - Childhood Rendezvous’ as its theme.

The annual festival was initiated by the Board of Directors of the District No 11 Children’s House in Ho Chi Minh City in 1993.  It is a large-scale event for children which offers a healthy playground for those who are interested in singing and dancing, honours new talents in the arts, and encourages children to study hard and improve their ethical standards in a comprehensive manner.

Local children rehearse for their performances

About 2,000 children from 60 children’s houses and centres in the southern region are taking part in the event.

Apart from musical performances, the participants will compete in a painting contest themed ‘I Love the Fatherland’s Sea and Islands’ and a kite flying competition during the festival.

About 300 members from the Da Nang's Children’s House will put on an impressive performance at the event’s opening ceremony tonight.  With excellent choreography, the performance will feature legends about the Marble Mountains and the Han River and other tales.

The Director of the municipal Children’s House and Deputy Head of the Organising Board of the event, Mr Nguyen Nhan, said that his unit has invited prestigious domestic artistes and musicians to join the judging board to give accurate evaluations of the musical performances during the festival.  They will also contribute their ideas to ensure perfectly choreographed performances with a high aesthetic value.

The event’s organisers are appealing for donations from the participating children’s houses and centres to help poor studious pupils across the city.