This is the first time Hai Phong City has launched the Flamboyant Festival with a view to appraising the beauty of the flower known as the port city’s symbol. The event taking place on 9th and 10th of June is seen as the very first step for a series of events which will take place during the national tourism year in the Red River Delta – Hai Phong 2013. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Le Khac Nam, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee on this event. Giang Tu reports.
This is the very first time that Hai Phong has organized the Flamboyant Festival. What objectives does the Management Board of the event aim at?
This is a new type of cultural tourism festival based on the flamboyant which is regarded as the symbol of the city. The event aims at promoting the pride of local people about the city as well as encouraging them to continue to improve good traditions. Besides, organising Flamboyant Festival is Hai Phong’s way to develop, protect and promote the city’s tourism trademark. The event is also a warm-up activity in preparation for the National Tourism Year 2013; makes a breakthrough in event organization and communication; draws tourists to the city; opens opportunities for product development, tourism connection; and highlights the fact that the Flamboyant Festival will become an annual event here.
The Flamboyant Festival is expected to be the kick-off event for the National Tourism Year 2013. How has Hai Phong exploited its tourism potentials?
Despite many difficulties, Hai Phong has been making efforts to exploit and promote our tourism potentials. Events with diverse content and representation forms reflecting the characters of Hai Phong will be held during the festival.
The hallmark of the festival is the carnival parade on the Flamboyant Festival night, followed by motorbike parade, lion dance and puppet shows, etc. Another remarkable image of the youths from coastal area walking on stilts while carrying fishing-nets and oars will also be present.
The carnival parade takes place in the sound of copper trumpet played by 100 artists featuring songs about Hai Phong. Meanwhile, video clips introducing typical streets of the city; Cat Bi air terminal and sea ports; construction site and newly constructed factories as well as tourist destinations and modern accommodation establishments of Hai Phong are played from screens on the stage.
In addition, cultural and tourism activities to exploit the potentials and strengths of the city are also organized in districts of Hai Phong, such as organisation of visits to Nguyen Binh Khiem’s temple and the Mac’s heritage site in Kien Thuy district, boat race on the Da Do river and so on.
Vietnamese festivals are widely held in many cities in the country. To leave a deep impression on the tourists, Hai Phong festival should have its own highlights. In this regard, could you please reveal the highlights of the tourism activities of Hai Phong this year?
Longstanding festivals can be passed from generation to generation. As for Flamboyant Festival, this is the first time it has been held in Hai Phong. Therefore, it is very important that the media get involved in the dissemination of the festival to the local people and tourists. Additionally, typical images and products shall be the testament to the existence and development of the festival from year to year. The city has given direction on the additional planting of flamboyant on the certain streets to make the city more impressive with its unique feature.
In particular, Pham Van Dong Street connecting the city centre with downtown tourist area of Do Son is considered the one covered with the most flamboyant in the country. The design and composition of symbolic tourism products such as embroidery, music, and logo ... are also paid much attention by investors.
In addition, masterpieces about flamboyant including songs, poetry, stories or features all contain calligraphy sentiment of the people living in the city or far away with good impression left about the city and its typical flower, making people and visitors remember about the Flamboyant Festival.
In particular, the city has laid specials focus on the quality of tourism services, from facilities to personnel in the tourism sector...
To achieve these objectives, the city has paid due attention to measures to implement the planning and investment in infrastructure development, establishment of the trademarks and typical tourism products of Hai Phong, improve the quality of tourism human resources...
With these efforts, we do hope that each flamboyant season will be an occasion to attract numerous local people and domestic and foreign tourists to the city and mingle with various interesting cultural and tourism activities in the Flamboyant Festival and the flame of the festival will live forever in the heart of residents and visitors.
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