Southeast Asia’s biggest drone light show to mark start of Year of Dragon in Hanoi

A drone light show expected to set a Southeast Asian record is scheduled to take place by the side of the West Lake in Hanoi on the eve of the Year of the Dragon on February 9.

The show, with the participation of 2,024 drones, will be organized by the People’s Committee of Tay Ho district, state-run Petrovietnam, and PVcomBank in celebration of the New Year, the district's Party Committee said.

The show 'Ruc Ro Thang Long' (Resplendent Thang Long), with 11 performances, tell the history of Hanoi through light and music.

It will officially take place at the Van Cao T-junction by the side of West Lake at 11:30 p.m. on February 9, the last day of the Cat. The audience can gather on Nguyen Dinh Thi and Trich Sai streets to enjoy the performance.

Shortly after that, high-altitude fireworks will be set off nearby from 0 a.m. to 0:15 a.m. on February 10, the first day of the Year of the Dragon.

People can watch the light show early at its final rehearsal at 9 p.m. on February 7.

The event is set to feature the biggest number of drones for such a performance in Southeast Asia, to be accompanied with exclusively composed music and screens for live broadcasting installed around the West Lake, promising an unprecedentedly spectacular show for locals and visitors on the threshold of the Year of the Dragon, according to organizers.

The aerial part of the performance is about 400 m high from the surface of the lake, while the stage takes up an area of 4.5 ha, and the show can be viewed from most places around the lake, especially the high-rise buildings.

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, in addition to the eight locations announced earlier for fireworks displays, the southern hub will add another three locations for the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration.

According to Tran The Thuan, director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, the city will add more locations to serve suburban residents in Binh Chanh, Cu Chi and Can Gio.

On February 1, during a meeting discussing economic results for January and key tasks for February 2024, Thuan mentioned the previous plan involved two high-altitude and six low-altitude fireworks locations.

The high-altitude locations will be arranged at the entrance of the Saigon River Tunnel in Thu Duc city and the Ben Duoc Commemorative Temple in Cu Chi district.

With three new locations, a total of nine low-altitude fireworks locations will be held at Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11, Lang Le Bau Co Historical Site in Binh Chanh district, Rung Sac Square in Can Gio district, Nga Ba Giong Historical Site in Hoc Mon district, District 7 Administrative Centre Square, Binh Tri Dong Residential Area in Binh Tan district, Cultural Park Area in Cu Chi district, Ben Noc Temple in Thu Duc city, and Cultural Park in Go Vap district.

However, due to the dense population at Lang Le Bau Co Historical Site, the Department of Culture and Sports suggested that the city People's Committee relocate the fireworks display to the traditional revolutionary area of Mau Than in Binh Chanh district to ensure safety.

Additionally, Thuan mentioned that previously, the approval authority for fireworks displays rested with the Prime Minister.

According to new regulations, districts now coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to organize low-altitude fireworks displays.

The low-altitude fireworks locations are actively managed by districts in terms of funding and do not use the city's budget.