The first ever Vietnamese International Hot Air Balloon Festival got underway in Phan Thiet City on August 31 in the central province of Binh Thuan. Numerous balloonists and pilots from 12 countries and territories are taking part.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai and representatives from several ministries and provinces attended the event.

According to the organizing board, 21 hot air balloons of all different shapes, sizes and colors will take to the skies above Phan Thiet within a radius of 25 km to portray the message ‘blue sea-white sand-sunshine’, the distinctive features of Binh Thuan province.

A wide range of activities, including kite flying and tourism and trade fairs will also take place as part of the four day festival.

The festival hopes to create a new kind of tourist attraction, while promoting the landscape of Binh Thuan in particular and Vietnam in general to international friends.