VOVNews reporters interviewed head of the 2006 Sea Festival Propaganda Committee Vo Ngoc Minh prior to the festival opening ceremony on April 11, an event considered a major historical and cultural event of the year.

VOVNews: The 2006 Sea Festival entitled “friendliness and impression”. Could you tell us about the purpose and message the organisation board wants to send to visitors from inside and outside the country?

Mr Minh: This is the first time the sea festival has been held in Ba Ria-Vung Tau. We want to send a message that Ba Ria-Vung Tau is a destination of friendliness and great impression to all sightseers. The topic of friendliness and impression will be the focal point of all festival activities.

The impression of the event is reflected from festive activities to the service manner of every local person and business towards visitors and investment partners. The festival is not only a historical and cultural event but also a cultural programme, which has been held with the pomp and circumstance. The event yields a good opportunity for the province to promote its image to the world, contributing to boosting socio-economic development more rapidly and sustainably.

The overall target of the province in the next five years and until 2015 is to develop Ba Ria-Vung Tau into an industrial, service and tourist oriented province with modern commercial port systems.

Through the festival, we want to show to international friends the renewal achievements and drastic changes the province has made over the past 20 years.

VOVNews: Could you talk about preparatory work for the 2006 Sea Festival?

Mr Minh: At present, all preparations have been completed and people’s awareness of the importance of the festival has also been raised. This is a good chance to introduce the festival to people inside and outside the country.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the centre of Vung Tau city. During the opening ceremony, four programmes will take place, including Ky uc (memories), Sac mau va tiem nang (Colour and potential), Suc song (Vitality) and Diem hen tinh yeu (Love destination).

VOVNews: What is the prominent event of the 2006 Sea Festival?

Mr Minh: The festival captures all the feature characteristics of a sea festival, while introducing the tourism potential and investment opportunities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. During the event, various activities will be held, including folk culture, calligraphy exhibition, photo exhibition on Ba Ria-Vung Tau, artifact exhibition, plane model performance and water-skiing. In particular, a cannon shooting event will take place during the opening and closing ceremonies, depicting the image of soldiers under the Nguyen dynasty during a struggle to protect the southern gate of Vietnam.

The weeklong festival is expected to attract many thousands of visitors, creating a joyful atmosphere on the Vung Tau beach.

The festival’s grand opening ceremony captures the history, culture and great potential of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, as well as calling on visitors, investors and international friends to flock to the promising destination.