On the evening of May 31, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival – DIFF 2025 officially commenced, organized by the Da Nang People’s Committee in partnership with Sun Group. This significant event marks the much-anticipated return of a cultural and tourism highlight for the Central coastal city each summer.
Under the theme “Legacy of Culture”, the festival’s opening night initiated a remarkable series of six fireworks displays scheduled to take place from May 21 to July 12, 2025, heralding the longest and most grandiose festival season in DIFF’s history.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Le Trung Chinh, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, expressed: “With the theme ‘Da Nang – the new rising era,’ this year’s festival offers an exceptional and emotional experience encompassing light technology, art, and music. It serves as a symphonic celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Da Nang and the Reunification of Southern Viet Nam. This occasion is a testament to our collective aspiration and determination for advancement, providing Da Nang the opportunity to solidify its status as a premier destination for events and festivals in Asia, thereby continuing to attract international guests to the vibrant, creative, and welcoming city of Da Nang.”
Ms. Nadia Shakira Wong, CEO of Global 2000, a leading consultancy in the field of fireworks, remarked, “No other country boasts a fireworks festival with participation from up to 10 competing teams. I am confident that we can propose DIFF 2025 for consideration for the Guinness World Records.”
Highlighting the undeniable allure of the picturesque coastal city of Da Nang, the grandstands for DIFF 2025 were filled with over 10,000 attendees. The audience enthusiastically embraced a multisensory artistic experience that integrated music, light displays, and augmented reality technology, culminating in unique and unprecedented moments. In particular, the compelling competition between the host team, Da Nang (Vietnam 1), and the reigning champions, Joho Pyro from Finland, created a stunning cultural synergy between Asia and Europe, illuminating the Da Nang sky.
Powerful comeback of host team Da Nang and reigning champion Finland
As the host city for the largest DIFF season in history, Da Nang captivated thousands of eager spectators with a breathtaking return and exceptional artistry in fireworks. For over 20 minutes, more than 5,000 dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky, harmonizing beautifully with music to create a grand symphony of light. This spectacular display was not just a celebration; it was a heartfelt tribute to the locals and tourists honoring the 50th anniversary of Da Nang’s liberation.
The fireworks unfolded in four meaningful chapters – Harmony, Tribute, Integration, and Leadership & Glory – weaving a narrative of Vietnamese culture emerging on the global stage. From gentle sparkling rains and color-changing effects to waterfall bursts and explosive waves, the performance took the audience on a profound emotional journey that ebbed and flowed from subtle to powerful.
Opening with flawlessly synchronized visuals to beloved international tunes like “Bonjour Vietnam”, “Titanium,” and “Top of the Rock,” the show beautifully depicted the vibrant spirit of a city in constant evolution. Moving into the next chapter, iconic imagery of Vietnam came alive alongside the songs “City of Lights” and “Glory,” enchanting everyone present. The climax of the performance came when fireworks artistically formed the image of the Marble Mountains against the backdrop of the night sky, merging with the rhythm of ocean waves – an eloquent message of connection and identity from this cherished coastal city.
Each chapter offered a heartfelt glimpse into Vietnamese culture, reflecting traditional heritage, national pride, and dynamic innovation. Beyond being a competing team, Da Nang took on the role of “storyteller through light”, reaffirming its reputation as a city of creativity, integration, and international connection.
“A perfect start to this DIFF season. As a Da Nang local, I was deeply moved and proud to see our home team perform in celebration of the city’s 50th liberation anniversary. Every year, my family and I search for tickets, but this year touched our hearts the most – it was truly the best performance from the Da Nang team”, shared Ha Linh, a resident brimming with emotion.
In contrast to the vibrant and warm display by the host team, Finland’s “Nordic Lights” performance enveloped the audience in an intense atmosphere, echoing the resilient spirit of the Nordic people. With pop-rock melodies like “Diamond Eyes”, “Liar”, and “Heroes Are Calling,” the audience was instantly drawn into a powerful narrative of survival amid the stunning landscapes of thousands of islands.
The initial fireworks burst forth like crashing waves before settling down to the delicate melody of “Stormskärs Maja”, a moving Nordic ballad that evoked images of wooden boats silently drifting through the tranquil fog of the Baltic Sea. Their signature water fireworks—an innovative technique that earned them last year’s accolade—graced the Han River with sparkling effects that emerged like magic from underwater, gliding gently before bursting forth like waves crashing against cliffs. The light fluid impact mirrored the undercurrents, highlighting the harsh yet beautiful journey of the remote islanders.
Finland raised the stakes with a dazzling array of high-altitude fireworks, filling the sky with bands of green, violet, and brilliant pink, reminiscent of the aurora borealis—transporting the audience to the chilly embrace of Lapland.
A particularly touching moment occurred during one chapter when the Vietnamese song “Bóng phù hoa – Vũ trụ cò bay” played amidst Nordic-style fireworks. This heartfelt melody served as a warm greeting, showcasing JoHo Pyro’s respect for cultural integration and unity. Firework clusters shaped like fans and circling like stork wings forged a magical moment of connection between two seemingly distant cultures, celebrating the beauty of unity through art.
A unique night of art by the Han River
Beyond the intense light and sound showcase, audiences at this year’s DIFF opening night experienced an unprecedented artistic journey. For the first time at a fireworks festival, large-scale outdoor AR (augmented reality) was introduced through the “Sun Paradise Land” app, merging vivid graphics seamlessly with the poetic Han River space.
The Sky AR project for DIFF 2025 stands as a monumental achievement, boasting a staggering 600,000 m² coverage with nearly 10 million pixels —the largest ever for a cultural-tourism event in Viet Nam. Each visual effect, tailor-made for each night’s theme, crafts immersive and personalized spectacles that captivate the imagination.
On opening night, audiences pointed their phones skyward to witness the Cham towers, inspired by the world’s largest Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang, which is home to over 2,000 cultural artifacts. They were delighted by graceful, enigmatic Cham dances and the enchanting image of “Cá Ông” (Whale God) swimming through the night sky, embodying the hopes of local fishermen for fair weather and safe seas.
The evening commenced with the powerful performance “Đất nước lời ru” (The Nation’s Lullaby), featuring the extraordinary voices of divo Tung Duong and “Ca trù” or Ceremonial singer Kieu Anh, accompanied by a professional dance troupe. This was followed by singer Thu Hang, a former Sao Mai Champion, who continued the spirit of pride with “Bình Minh Đà Nẵng” (Da Nang’s Sunrise), a proud anthem celebrating the city’s rise into a brilliant new era. Her blend of traditional tones with modern interpretation drew audiences into an emotionally rich cultural tapestry.
The segment “Vietnamese Aspirations”, featuring Nguyen Tran Trung Quan and a well-crafted dance troupe, resonated with national pride and ambitions for global outreach. The radiant Kieu Anh returned with her viral act “Phong nữ x Cô đôi thượng ngàn”, showcasing the mystical aesthetics of Vietnam’s Mother Goddess worship, adding a fresh highlight to the program’s artistic flow.
The stage atmosphere soared with “Fly me to the moon” and a Finnish folk dance performance by the Mai Trang dance troupe, boldly transforming the space and transporting the audience into boundless artistic realms. The lively and explosive Can-can dance capped off the emotional opening night, extending a vibrant invitation: continue the journey with DIFF 2025 – “Da Nang – the new rising era” in the upcoming fireworks nights.
David, a tourist from the U.S., exclaimed: “Incredible! I’ve never attended a more beautiful and grand fireworks festival. It’s not just fireworks – Da Nang has technology and music festivals. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate – come straight to the grandstand to feel the vibrant atmosphere. I’ll be back for the next show.”
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The upcoming festival features an exciting lineup of fireworks nights, scheduled every Saturday in the following weeks, with a one-week break before the grand finale. The themes and competing teams are as follows:
– Night 2 (June 7): The art of Creativity – the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (Viet Nam 2) vs. the Republic of Poland
– Night 3 (June 14): The path of unity – Canada vs. the People’s Republic of China
– Night 4 (June 21): Sustainable Development – the Republic of Portugal vs. The United Kingdom
– Night 5 (June 28): Powered by Innovation – the Republic of Korea vs. The Italian Republic
– Final Night (July 12): The New Rising Era.
The festival’s success is attributed to the support of major sponsors, including Vietnam Airlines and Bizman Media as Diamond Sponsors, alongside Chicilon Media as the Media Sponsor. Additionally, esteemed partners like Pacific Airlines, Hai Tran Media, Airs Group, and the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) play a vital role in making the event possible.
In celebration of this occasion, National Citizen Bank (NCB) is offering an appealing discount of up to 30% for customers purchasing DIFF tickets through the NCB iziMobile app. To take advantage of this offer, access the app, click on the DIFF banner on the homepage, select “Sun World Ba Na Hills – DIFF 2025 Fireworks Tickets”, choose your preferred date, and complete your purchase at a discounted rate. Enjoy the festival!
DANANG CENTER FOR TOURISM PROMOTION
