The central city of Da Nang is almost completely booked out for the International Fireworks Competition set to light up the Han River tonight.
Tables have been put on balconies and terraces, in restaurants and outdoor eateries and even on boats to offer clear views of the pyrotechnics, which will start at 8 p.m. Friday (Mar 27) and Saturday(Mar 28).
Most restaurants and hotels on Tran Hung Dao Street by the river were fully reserved as early as Wednesday, but a few said there were still some seats left for the second night.
The street’s karaoke lounges, massage centers and even some residents have set tables on their balconies with VND100,000 (US$5.90) as the lowest price for a seat, not including drinks.
The World Club bar said it offered a balcony on the third floor, with a capacity of 20 seats, for VND4 million ($234). The prices are more expensive for balconies on higher floors.
Its café on the seventh floor also offers seats for VND100,000 on the condition that guests don’t use camera tripods to save space.
The Newday Massage Lounge on Tran Hung Dao Street also said its highest terrace was fully booked while there are still seats on the third floor. An employee said they were offering air-conditioned rooms for 10 people for a total of VND2 million ($117).
Small restaurants and outdoor eateries said their tables were booked out for both days.
One local has set up his boat to view the action from the Han River.
Nhat Thinh Company said it would supply two boats with a total capacity for 200 guests, at a price of VND500,000 ($29) per person, adding they could supply two more depending on the demand.
The company advertised that customers who used their services would get the best view of the fireworks competition without having to jostle for a place.
“The boats will anchor some 150 meters from the fireworks launching area which is on the other side of the Thuan Phuoc Bridge,” said Huynh Phan Anh Sa, the company’s director.
“We chose that place because the view won’t be blocked by smoke from the fireworks,” he added.
He also pointed out the boats had been used as tour boats for foreign tourists and had modern equipment, insurance and safety buoys.
The free areas on the river banks will be crowded so people are expected to arrive six hours early to get a spot.
There is also a special area on the river with 6,000 seats for invited guests.
This year, a festival of Vietnamese and international food will be held on the river to coincide with the fireworks. The food festival has already run out of tickets which cost VND150,000 ($8.80) each.
PREPARATIONS COMPLETED FOR MAIN EVENT
The Da Nang International Fireworks Competition will open two days before the 34th anniversary of the day the central city was liberated (March 29).
Teams from the Philippines, Spain and Vietnam will compete tonight, while those from China and Australia are set for Saturday.
Dozens of boats decorated with flowers will parade along the Han River during the event, along with the lights of thousands of floating lanterns.
Da Nang City has prepared 140 hotels with a total of 4,600 rooms to serve the demand during the festival, with about 1,600 rooms also available at guesthouses and rental services.
The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said these accommodations could serve up to 10,000 guests.
The city’s People’s Committee Chairman, Tran Van Minh, Thursday inspected preparations for the event.
The city will also ban all trucks and cars of 16-seat-and-over on streets in the central area from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. today and tomorrow. From 5 p.m., no vehicles will be permitted on some streets, including Bach Dang, Tran Phu and Tran Hung Dao and Song Han Bridge.
Authorities have also recommended that vehicles avoid the streets of Ly Thuong Kiet, Ly Tu Trong, Tran Quy Cap, Nguyen Du, Le Van Duyet, Quang Trung, Le Duan, Hung Vuong, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Quoc Toan, Thai Phien, Le Hong Phong and Nguyen Cong Tru.