Italy’s Martarello won the 2017 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival after a spectacular Saturday night performance on the Han River.

The Pyrotex Fireworx team from the UK placed third in the 2017 Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival. 

It’s the third time an Italian team wins the fireworks competitions in the central city, with the Parente team winning in 2011 and 2012.

The Italian team was judged to have the best combination of Italian melodies with low and high-range fireworks in the 20-minute performance. The music started slow, and gradually accelerated to reach a crescendo in the finale.

Howard&Sons Pyrotechnics from Australia, which held a "concert" in the shadow of Mộc Sơn Mountain (part of the Marble Mountain range) on the Hàn in the final round, came in second.

The team created an active volcano out of fireworks on the second night of the festival, with rapid-fire colourful explosions in the skies over Đà Nẵng.

The Pyrotex Fireworx team from the UK was ranked third. The UK team’s firepower was accompanied by pop tunes, ballads, classical tunes and epic arrangements.

Deputy chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, Đặng Việt Dũng, said the participating teams helped build the city’s reputation as a favourite destination in central Việt Nam and a fireworks rendezvous in Asia.

The festival, which began on April 30, drew the participation of eight teams: Sugyp SA from Switzerland, Đà Nẵng-Việt Nam, Fireevent Die Feuerwerker from Austria, China’s Dancing Fireworks Group, Pyrotex Fireworx team from the UK, Howard&Sons Pyrotechnics from Australia, and Italy’s Martarello.

The festival, entitled "Shining Ngũ Hành Sơn", or Shining Marble Mountains, was held annually from 2008 to 2013, and as a biennial from 2015.

In 2013, the US team Melrose Pyrotechnics took first spot. Canada’s Davis Whysall took the top prize in 2008, while China’s Liuyang Dancing won in 2009. France’s Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010.

According to organiers, the event attracted over 2 million tourists visiting the city between April and June.

Last year the city hosted 5.6 million tourists, with 1.67 million being foreigners. 

VNS