The People’s Committee of Da Nang has ordered the relocation of boats anchored at the Han River Pier to make way for the 2018 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) in April.

An administrative document issued by the People’s Committee on Thursday enforces a temporary shut-down of the Han River Pier, located on Bach Dang Street in Hai Chau District, and requires all vessels docked at the pier to relocate to the Thu River Pier.

The committee also put Sun Group Cooperation, the DIFF organizer, in charge of the Han River Pier and the local waterway from April 12 to July 8, 2018, as proposed by the Da Nang Department of Transport.

A stretch of riverbank from the Thu River Corporation headquarters to Nguyen Van Troi Bridge will also be set aside as temporary docking space for the relocated watercrafts.

Waterway traffic around the Han River Pier will be limited between April 9 and 11, and rerouted to the Thu River Pier before the shut-down on April 12.

The People’s Committee will cooperate with the Department of Transport to ensure the pier is in working order before April 12. The pier will stay open until July 9, when cruise ships and boats begin moving back to the Han River Pier.

DIFF is an annual event first organized in 2008 with four teams of firework technicians from four different countries competing to see who could present the grandest fireworks display, according to the event’s webpage.

The event has earned fame throughout the years and in 2018, its ninth edition, will host eight contenders.

The eight teams include host Vietnam, three-time champion Italy, previous winners the U.S. and France, Poland, Portugal, and first-time contenders Sweden and Hong Kong.

The contest will be held over five nights, beginning with a match between Vietnam and Poland on April 30, followed by France vs. the U.S. on May 26, Italy vs. Hong Kong on June 2, and Sweden vs. Portugal on June 9.

The two teams with the most spectacular displays will duel in the final round on June 30 for the championship.

The five nights of performances will center on the minor themes of love, time, happiness, ambition, and companionship.

The overarching theme for 2018 DIFF is ‘The Legend of Bridges,’ as the construction of bridges embodies the city’s transformation to a modern metropolis comparable to megacities within the region.

The 2018 DIFF will be accompanied by colorful parades, a student flash mob contest, music performances, a food festival, and other entertainment and attractions around the city.

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