Tuyên Quang marks tourism year with first int’l hot air balloon fest

The first hot balloon festival will be organised in Tuyên Quang for the first time, creating a good signal for Vietnamese tourism sector after a long time being affected by COVID-19 pandemic. — Photo Courtesy Vietjet Air

HCM CITY — The northern province of Tuyên Quang will host its first international hot air balloon festival from March 30 to April 4 this year.

As part of the “Tuyên Quang Tourism Year 2022” event, the festival, which is jointly organised by the province and the International Balloon Association in collaboration with Vietjet Air, will bring together 20 hot air balloons from different countries and territories around the world including the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Spain and the Netherlands. 

A Vietjet hot air balloon will represent the national colors of Việt Nam at the festival.

Organisers said that there will be three places in the province where the balloons will be displayed and flown: Tuyên Quang City; Tân Trào special national historical relic site; and Lâm Bình District.

Festival visitors can enjoy a free hot air balloon flight at the Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Tuyên Quang City on presenting a Vietjet boarding pass or e-tickets. The carrier has said that boarding passes and e-tickets on its entire network from now until the end of December 31, 2022 are acceptable. Priority will be given to visitors who arrive early due to limited flight time.

The first international hot air balloon festival is considered an event that will facilitate Việt Nam’s tourism recovery. It will not only highlight provincial potentials but of the nation as a whole, organisers said.

Festival visitors will have the opportunity to participate in unique activities to celebrate the Tuyên Quang tourism year including celebrating the 75th anniversary of President Hồ Chí Minh’s return to Tuyên Quang to lead the Vietnamese people’s resistance against the French colonialists. 

They can also interact with the balloon pilots from countries participating in the festival.

Tuyên Quang, 165km far from Hà Nội, has emerged as a new and alluring tourist destination in the country. 

Located in the heart of the northern mountainous region, it has picturesque, poetic scenery as well as rich cultural diversity because it is home to several ethnic minority communities.

Hoàng Việt Phương, deputy chairman of the Tuyên Quang People’s Committee, said that the province has prepared well to host the national tourism year programme by upgrading infrastructure and training human resources.

The tourism year will see many festivals and other cultural events as the province targets attracting 2.2 million visitors this year, he added. — VnExpress News