The central province of Quang Ngai has submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism a proposal to host a Vietnamese sea and island festival in 2012.
The festival aims to promote traditional cultural heritage, boost economic and tourism development, and affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial waters in the East Sea. It will also help raise public awareness of the country’s sovereignty over seas and islands, and the responsibility towards defending and restoring its tangible and intangible heritage.
A ceremony to commemorate soldiers who laid down their lives to defend the Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) several hundred years ago will form the core of the festival. Other activities such as boat races, genie processions, whale worship rituals and folk games of coastal villagers will also be held.
Under the proposal, Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai City, Sa Huynh tourist resort and My Khe beach resort will be venues for the festival.
With a 130km long coastline, Quang Ngai has great potential for tourism development. It boasts of Sa Huynh tourist resort, My Khe beach resort, Son My relic, late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s memorial house, national hero Truong Dinh’s temple, and a tourist complex on Ly Son island district.