A performance of the 2019 festival's opening ceremony on June 1, 2019, in Da Nang.

The host team Da Nang-Viet Nam took ‘The Legendary River Banks’ as their performance’s theme for the opening ceremony, featuring Da Nang city’s vigorous growth over the years. Meanwhile, Team Fireworks Center Khan from Russia thrilled the spectators with their impressive show entitled ‘Dance of Fire and Water’. According to Russian contestants, fire and water are powerful natural elements, unbridled energies. Two antagonists, 2 different worlds that have coexisted with each other for millions of years, are inevitable for life.

"The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is recognized as 1 of 10 leading events selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The annual event has received enthusiastic welcome from the local people and visitors to Da Nang. This year’s festival promises to entertain the audience with amazing fireworks shows and various sideline events," said Huynh Duc Tho, Chairman of the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee.

Le Hai Quyen, a visitor from Dak Lak province, said: "The Russian team’s performance showed a great harmony in their teamwork while the Vietnamese team played more music. Each team left their own impression on the audience."

The fireworks festival – the 10^th edition since 2008 – will feature teams from Russia, Brazil, Belgium, Finland, England, China, Italy and Vietnam. This year’s event, titled ‘Stories by the Rivers’, will see teams describing the beauty and culture of typical rivers in their countries during the month-long festival. The festival includes 5 nights of competitions on 5 different topics: Origin, Seed, Love, Colors, and Sailing. Brazil and Belgium will take the stage next Saturday. Three-time champions Italy and Finland will play the third night on June 15, while England and China will perform on June 22. The top two teams will be selected for the final on July 6.