Thousands performers light up Carnaval Ha Long 2016

The annual Carnaval Ha Long festival opened at 30/10 Square in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 30 with the participation of thousands of domestic professional and amateur actors, singers and dancers in addition to four international art troupes.

The opening ceremony saw the attendance of Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of the PCC’s Organisation Commission, representatives from ministries, sectors and localities, as well as thousands of domestic and international visitors.

The 90-minute event featured musical performances by local artists along with a street parade along with the participation of professional and amateur artists from several Southeast Asian countries.A colourful fireworks display was also held at the end of the ceremony.

Carnaval Ha Long aims to showcase the local culture, tourism and cuisine, as well as attract tourists to sights in the area, particularly Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage site. Last year’s event featured nearly 3,000 actors and actresses, drawing nearly 500,000 visitors, an increase of 12% from the previous year. According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province estimated that revenue from tourism during the period was more than VND1.2 trillion (US$53.7 million), a year-on year increase of 14%.