Italy, US to light up stage at Danang fireworks festival

Firework teams from the U.S. and Italy have set up launch areas on the banks of the Han River, ready for a second night lighting up the skies of the Danang International Fireworks Festival 2024 (DIFF).

The two teams came to Han Port’s yard in preparation for their show on June 15 at the largest and the only fireworks festival in Vietnam.

Captain of Italy’s Martarello Group, Damiano Baraldo shared his emotion ahead of the launch night, saying they hoped to make it through to the final.

“Last year, we also got to the final but unfortunately France was better. But this year we came here with more energy because we want to go to the final and try to win again,” he told spectators.

“The weather is wonderful, but considering what happened last year, we are making plans in case it rains. We know how to cover everything to avoid what’s happened last year. Anyway the weather is forecast to be good.

“I think and believe that people from Danang and tourists will really appreciate what we have prepared for the city and tourists. There will be a big surprise in our performance, everybody is going to love it.”

Damiano Baraldo also said the Italy’s team will have a new product, never used before, which will shock and amaze the audience. The performance is based on the theme ‘Made of nature wisdom’, which the Italians will use to represent the colors of nature that you have during the day, but also during the night, all accompanied with music.

“It will be a medley of colors and music together in the night time. So you can feel the color of the nature and environment of the city when you come here. When we got off the plane, we felt the heat but we could also feel the world and the people in it," he said.

Nancy Rozzi of Rozzi Fireworks from the U.S. said their team is competing for the first time.

“Everything has been evaluated, " she said. "I would like to say that the group, the Global 2000 group (the festival consultancy company), is very well organized and it's a very nice competition. We're very happy to be here representing the US and I hope we can bring you beautiful fireworks.

“I can tell you that our displays are very complex. We try to bring to people a feeling of unity. And that's the name of our show 'Humanity' a bridge between nations.

“I have never seen the Italian show and I have never seen their work and I have no idea what they do, but all we think about is presenting the best fireworks show we can. I don’t think about winning. I don’t think about any of that stuff. We just do our best to give you, the audience, the visual entertainment that you deserve.”

The US team captain said: “The music is an emotional experience. So together with the fireworks, we try to tell a story about how the world is a complicated place. Hopefully we can all decide that we are all going to get along in this world. So, by visually giving you a very complex show (our shows move up and around this way and that) but with synchronization. In all kinds of colors. So that's the kind of entertainment we hope you will feel or the hope that you will enjoy while you're watching.”

The Americans are also hoping to have some time after the show to do some sightseeing.

She said: "We have a couple of days. I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. It's a beautiful country, which I never thought I would get to visit so we are very happy to be here.”

It is a first time too for the team from the Martarello firework company, which was founded in 1921.

The group which only uses hand-crafted fireworks, has won the DIFF twice in 2017-18 and was placed in second place in 2023.

Danang has been hosting a firework festival since 2008, hoping to create a brand as a ‘Fireworks Festival City’ and promote it as a top destination in central Vietnam and Asia.

Each festival attracts more than one million visitors, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue for the city’s tourism industry.