Themed “Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Aspiration, Love and Sea”, the festival is hoped to bolster investment, trade, tourism and economic development of and connect links between the province and other coastal localities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Trinh said the festival, with 17 activities, will provide solutions to turn tourism into the province’s key economic sector by 2020. It is also an important event to introduce the province’s achievements in tourism and sea economy, and seek cooperation with domestic and foreign investors.

This year, the number of visitors to the province increased 20-25 percent. Total revenue from hosting services reached 1.78 trillion VND (76.6 million USD), a year-on-year increase of 11.6 percent, he noted.

The festival has attracted more than 400 businesses and cultural organisations from 26 provinces and cities to participate in 17 economic, cultural and sports activities during the seven-day event.

A trade fair with 843 stalls will be set up to introduce the province’s achievements and potential in economics, culture and society, especially in the fields of tourism, ports, logistics and hi-tech agriculture.

The fair will also showcase products and promote cooperation between businesses in industry, agriculture, trade and services in the province and neighbouring provinces.

Several seminars and workshops on trade and tourism promotion, as well as environmental protection, will be organised.

The festival will feature an outdoor electronic dance music concert titled “Sea Run” with pop star Son Tung M-TP, a kite performance, and a beer festival. A carnival and a parade of classic Vespa scooters will also take place.

Exhibitions will be organised to showcase calligraphy works, orchid flowers and sand statues.

Around 500,000 visitors are expected to flock to the festival, which will end on September 3.