The 2018 Ba Ria – Vung Tau Sea Festival opened in Vung Tau City on Tuesday, expected to be the greatest sea festival ever held in Vietnam.

This is the second time the festival has been organized, with the first one dating back to 2006.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is located on the coast of southeastern Vietnam, around 100 kilometers (a two-hour drive) from Ho Chi Minh City.

The area is well known to tourists for its beautiful scenery and beaches in Vung Tau, the capital of the province, including Back Beach, Front Beach, and Pineapple Beach.

The opening ceremony was held at Cot Co (Flagpole) Park, on Nguyen An Ninh Street of the Back Beach area, where most activities of the festival will take place.

With this year’s theme “Connecting the Provinces, Cities of Vietnam – Sustainable Development of Commerce – Tourism and Economy,” the festival will display a large number of the localities’ main activities, specialties, and cultures, according to news page Vung Tau Tin Tuc (Vung Tau News).

The opening ceremony succeeded in displaying the rich resources and how the regions are favored by nature so as to attract visitors, promote their tourism, and raise investments.

Twenty-eight coastal localities with 800 stalls participate in the festival to display the regions’ cultures, while conducting entertaining activities.

During the opening ceremony, Nguyen Van Trinh, chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau People’s Committee, mentioned the region’s most recent efforts to improve tourism quality including high-quality product promotion, tourism networks, private investment encouragement, and human workforce development, among others.

After having taken a “break” for 12 years, the 2018 Ba Ria-Vung Tau Sea Festival is held from August 28 to September 3. Photo: VOV

In his opening remarks, Trinh also expressed his desire to connect, partner, and work with private businesses, other regions, and foreign investors.

Moreover, Ba Ria-Vung Tau also introduced its strategic plan and goals for 2030 as a response to the central government’s recent decree aimed at turning tourism into one of Vietnam’s core industries.

The festival plays a vital role in establishing long-lasting, meaningful, and supportive relations among the provinces and cities, as well as promoting Ba Ria-Vung Tau as a touristic destination, both nationally and globally.

Other activities of the festival include kite flying performances, ancient Vespa motorbike parades across Vung Tau, carnivals, beer fests, and musical performances.

One of the most outstanding activities would be the display of sand sculptures on the beach of the DIC Sea Tourist Area on Thuy Van Street, Vung Tau.

Four sculptures will be made by 30 professional sculptors, painters, and university students from the University of Arts in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Trinh Hang, director of the Department of Tourism of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, all of the expenses, around VND20 billion (US$860,000) were fully raised by International Trade Expo Joint Stock Company.

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