Three sponsors have signed commitments to provide for Vietnam’s first ever international hot air balloon festival, scheduled to take place in the southern province of Binh Thuan from August 29 to September 3.

The sponsorship agreement was signed on August 15 at SeaHorse resort of Binh Thuan between the event’s organiser, the Chien Thang Service Ltd, and Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and the fully foreign invested life insurer Manulife.

The festival will cost an estimated 20 billion VND (nearly one million USD), said Chien Thang company’s vice general director Hoang Ngoc Nam.

Speaking at the ceremony, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan Nguyen Thanh Tam said that the festival is expected to promote the country’s image in general and the local tourism sector in particular.

More than 50 pilots and international balloonists from 12 countries and territories will feature at the show, with around 30 colourful balloons taking to skies above Phan Thiet.

Currently, facilities supporting the festival are at the final stage of completion.