The first-ever ‘Da Nang’s Expats Got Talent 2017’ contest, the brainchild of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, has taken place successfully, and it left a deep impression on the audience.

One of the exciting performances at the contest

The contestants, who are expats from such foreign countries as the US, France, Russia, Canada, Laos and South Korea, really felt very happy and excited to advertise their home countries’ special cultural characteristics to city-dwellers.

Uganda born man Sempa Hemy, who is specialising in delivering arts performances at the Da Nang Cocobay Entertainment and Tourism Complex, was very pleased about his performance with his fellows at the contest.  Their interesting performance received a warm applause from the audience members for vividly featuring the Uganda cultural values.

Another contestant, Mr Lee Cheol Ho from South Korea, produced a thrilling saxophone performance which won the first prize for the individual category.

The South Korean man has nearly 20 years’ experience in playing this type of musical instruments.  Every night, he delivers saxophone and trumpet performances to serve passengers onboard trip boats on the Han River.

Mr Lee eagerly said that the meaningful contest, indeed, offered a wonderful opportunity for him to thrill local audience members with his best possible music skills, as well as to demonstrate the South Korean expat community’s dedication to the richness and diversity of the city’s culture.

In her remarks, Le Thuy Vi, an audience member from the city-based University of Architecture, was very deeply impressed by diversified performances showcasing various types of arts, including folk or traditional songs of any kind, modern dance, magic tricks and circus acts.

Another audience member, US visitor Araron Girona, was also captivated by the fascinating contest. He underlined the significance of organising such a meaningful event in the future years in an effort to offer a great rendezvous for the local expat community.

Ms Nguyen Thi Hoi An, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, noted that in the spotlight at the competition were many deliberately prepared on-stage performances during which the contestants showed off their talents in an enthusiastic and confident manner.

Deputy Director An pointed out to the fact that, currently, a large number of expats are living, working and studying in the city.  Therefore, it is necessary for the city to create more arts programmes for expats living here, thereby helping to uphold cultural exchanges amongst them.  These practical events, in turn, will also help local residents understand more about special cultural characteristics of foreign countries and territories worldwide.

Ms An proudly remarked that the successful contest aimed to create an exciting and jubilant atmosphere during the imminent Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as to partly advertise the city’s allure in the eyes of international friends.