Da Nang’s fireworks festival: from small contest to summer spectacle

Now marking 18 years since its debut and its 13th official edition, the DIFF 2025 wraps up this Saturday, July 12, in the central coastal city of Da Nang with a grand finale showdown between teams from Vietnam and China.

Each weekend since May 31, the Han River has lit up with fireworks, drawing crowds of locals and tourists to watch the sky's kaleidoscopic displays.

This summer's edition sees six nights of competition — the most in its history — and has already become the city's biggest-ever edition.

A rising economic tide

Since moving to biennial—and now annual—format in 2017 under Sun Group's stewardship, DIFF has reshaped Da Nang's tourism scene. 

That year, hotel stays surged 50 percent, with foreign visitors up 81 percent, signaling the start of a cultural tourism boom.

This year's festival, profiled by city officials as "a powerful engine for cultural industries and tourism in the next five years," has attracted about 1.17 million guests from May 31 to June 28 — up 10.3 percent over 2024. 

Occupancy in four- and five-star hotels now hovers near 95 percent, with tour and transport firms upping package bookings by 15–20 percent.

In the first half of 2025, Da Nang recorded 5.8 million overnight visitors — five times more than the total for 2007, before DIFF began. 

Revenue from lodging, food, tours and retail soared to VND18.2 trillion (US$695.2 million), triple the entire 2007 haul.

A weekend ritual with international flair

Cranes and pyrotechnicians have been preparing in earnest for the July 12 finale, featuring homegrown Z121 Vina Pyrotech and a team from China. 

Meanwhile, tourists like Nguyen Toan Thang from north-central Nghe An Province note how the fireworks enhance their visit.

"Da Nang has everything tourists want — beautiful beaches, clean streets, good prices… and fireworks every weekend," Thang said. 

"It's the perfect multifunctional travel experience."