Under the 2016 Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous programme which is running from 17 to 26 June, a wide range of exciting activities are being held at the city’s East Sea Park, and they are drawing a lot of attention from local residents and visitors. 

In particular, about 60 professional and amateur fliers from Da Nang and other localities nationwide are competing in the 2016 Da Nang Paragliding Open Race themed ‘Flying over the Tien Sa Festival’ from 17 - 22 June.  The contestants race from the top of the Ban Co (Chessboard) Peak to land on a beach section near the intersection of Hoang Sa and Le Duc Tho streets.

Students from Duy Tan University creating their sand sculpture

The head of the Da Nang Paragliding Club, Mr Duong Hien Hoang, said, “Paragliding gives the participants panoramic views of the city’s beautiful beaches, the local high buildings and the impressive bridges crossing the Han River.”  He hopes that this kind of sport will develop further in order to diversify the city’s tourism products in the future years.

As another part of the Summer Renezvous programme, the Da Nang Sand Sculpture Contest 2016 is taking place in the park.  Demonstrating their rich imagination and dexterity, some students from the Architecture Faculty of the Duy Tan University have designed sculptures to incorporate messages of environmental protection and building a peaceful world.

Ms Le Thanh Dung, a visitor from Ha Noi, said she was very impressed by the numerous exciting activities, including the sand sculpture contest and a photo exhibition.  She emphasised, “This is the first time I have participated in such interesting activities on beaches, and I will return again to this beautiful seaside city”.

The Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Tourism Beaches, Mr Nguyen Duc Vu, said that this year’s programme features a wide range of entertainment activities for both residents and visitors in order to advertise the local beach tourism brand to domestic and international friends.  Included are jet skiing, coracle racing, paragliding, water skiing, banana boat riding and kayaking.

In response to the 2^nd International Day of Yoga (21 June), over 500 local Yoga lovers joined a free 2-hour session on Sunday at the park.  The participants were instructed by Indian Master Avi who manages the city’s Aro Yoga centre.

A waiter/waitress competition took place on Vo Nguyen Giap in front of the Phuoc My 2 Restaurant yesterday.  Co-organised by the departments of Tourism, and Culture and Sports, the event had over 70 contestants participating.  They were amateur and professional waiters and waitresses who are either university, junior college or vocational school students or hotel and restaurant employees from Da Nang, and Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces.

Under the rules of the competition, each team of 2 male and 2 female servers competed in a 4 x 200m relay race which involved speed and dexterity. The contestants were required to balance a tray, holding a plastic bottle and cup of water, on one hand.

In the end, the first prize went to the team from the Novotel Hotel, the second to Duy Tan University, the third to the Cong Doan Hotel, and the consolation prize to the Eden Plaza Hotel - all winners from Da Nang. 

Also, an award was given to the city’s Commerce Junior College for the most impressive costumes in the competition.