The 2-month-long Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF 2018), which concluded on 30 April with the wonderful displays by the Italian and US teams, proved a great success, and thoroughly entertained thousands of locals and visitors.

The wonderful pyrotechnic display by Team Italy at the grand finale on 30 June (Photo: Hai Dang)

Mr Kent Wright from the UK, expressed his high admiration for the highly artistic, delicate pyrotechnic display by Team Italia who were worthily crowned champions at this year’s event.

Featuring the characteristics of the lands of the Mediterranean land, the show by the Italian competitors featured a beautiful combination of lively support music, special lighting effects, colourful fireworks, and innovative imagery in much-practised and perfectly choreographed manner. What an excellent show!

The first prize winner was awarded with the DIFF 2018 trophy and 10,000 USD in cash, whilst the runner-up, the US team, was given 5,000 USD. Meanwhile, the remaining 6 teams shared the third place.

Mr Ermes Martarello, the leader of the Italian team, expressed his happiness as his team successfully secured the championship title.

“I had very happy days with wonderful experiences in this beautiful seaside city. If there is any chance, I would come back here next year”, said Ermes Martarello.

The Italian competitors were very happy as they secured the championship title as they did last year.

This year also marks the 10^th anniversary of the DIFF brand name, hereby making the event more attractive to both locals and visitors from both home and abroad.

The Da Nang International Fireworks Competition (DIFC) was first organised in 2008 with only 4 participating teams. 

Since 2017, the DIFC has been upgraded into the DIFF which promises bigger and better performances, attracting 8 teams worldwide. During the 2-month-long DIFF, locals and visitors enjoyed an one-of-a-kind party of fireworks and entertainment arts.

Over the 10-year-long journey, DIFF has become one of the city’s large-scale international events, attracting the top notch fireworks contestants in the world. This has helped the city to re-affirm its position as ‘Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination’, the award it won at the World Travel Awards (WTAs) Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2016.

The successful organisation of DIFF over the past decade has been mainly attributed to the great efforts made by local authorities and the event’s organisers, along with the hospitality and enthusiasm made by local citizens.

Ms Nadia Wong Abdullah, the Director of the Global2000 Company from Malaysia, the consultants for DIFF 2018, said, DIFF is a famous rendezvous for talents showing off prestigious reputation in the globally pyrotechnic industry.

She explained participating teams which Global2000 has meticulously selected and invited to DIFF have vast experiences in world-class fireworks display, and they brought home outstanding achievements at international large-scale competition.

The viewing stands were packed with pyro-lovers at the grand finale

Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Huynh Van Hung, highlighted the great significance of DIFF in bringing positive changes to the face of the the city’s tourism industry over the past decade.

It is, therefore, hoped that the city authorities, in the near future, would give a nod to the construction of an DIFF complex with more imposing performance areas and viewing stands.

Sun Group’s General Director Dang Minh Truong vowed that, given its strong commitment to boosting the city’s tourism and its socio-economic progress as a whole, his business would continue to join forces with the local government and residents in an attempt to develop Da Nang into a new fireworks festival city in Asia. 

It was revealed that DIFF 2018 was held at a total cost of over 139 billion VND.

According to the official statistics released the municipal Department of Tourism, during the 2-month-long fireworks festival, a total of over 1.5 million domestic and foreign visitors arrived in the city, up 25.54% against the same period last year.

Given the hike in the number of tourist arrivals to the city, there was an increase of 7,355 new hotel rooms put into use for DIFF 2018 against last year’s event.  Notably, the average room occupancy rates in hotels were between 70% and 90%.