The Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2023 wrapped up in Nha Trang, a famous beach city in south-central Vietnam, on Tuesday evening, attracting 150,000 overnight tourists during its four-day span.

Among them were some 16,600 international visitors, while the room occupancy rate reached 78.8 percent during the fest, which took place from June 3 to 6 in Nha Trang, the capital city of Khanh Hoa Province, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

The province also welcomed more than 450,000 day trippers during the sea festival.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dinh Van Thieu, vice-chairman of the Khanh Hoa Province People’s Committee, said that the sea fest covered more than 70 cultural and sports activities.

Multiple events were held on a large scale, while the 10th edition featured a modern seaside stage and a brilliant light show presented by more than 1,650 drones at the opening ceremony.

Another highlight of the festival was an ao dai parade with the participation of some 6,000 women in the Vietnamese traditional costume.

“The Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2023 satisfied locals and tourists, broadening their knowledge about the province’s traditional cultural features,” said Thieu.

Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, a tourist coming from Binh Dinh Province, said, “I did not miss any night of the festival. I came to April 2 Square, where the fest was held, to watch various interesting performances and shows.”

Thanh recounted that her family planned a trip to Nha Trang City at the right time of the festival to both swim and experience cultural activities during the fest.

The light show by drones and food booths with a variety of local dishes impressed her the most, she said.

Nguyen Minh Thang, deputy director of Corex Business Solutions JSC, which was in charge of the drone light show, said that after the show on the opening night, the firm was planning to turn drone light displays into a world-class tourism product in Khanh Hoa Province.

Le Bich Tram, a dweller of Nha Trang City, said that many locals seemed eager for the comeback of the sea festival after a pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a unique program in Khanh Hoa Province, she said proudly.

During the four-day event, Nha Trang was busier than usual, she added.

The closing ceremony featured many renowned singers such as Ngo Kien Huy, Ali Hoang Duong, Hien Thuc, and Thu Minh.

In 2022, the province received 2.57 million tourists and earned some VND14 trillion (US$600 million) in tourism revenue, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper cited the province’s Department of Tourism as reporting.

Khanh Hoa Province is set to welcome four million visitors, including 1.5 foreigners, and looks to book VND21 trillion ($900.6 million) in travel revenue in 2023.

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