Art troupes from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and the southern central provinces are gathering at the Vietnam Sea Village Festival 2011, which opened in the central coastal province of Ninh Thuan on August 2.

Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Dai underlined that the event aims to create motivation for socio-economic and cultural development in the central southern coastal region, promote exchanges and solidarity among coastal residents and raise awareness of the national defence and love for the country’s seas and islands.

As part of the National Tourism Year 2011, the event which is to close on August 4 includes a wide range of activities such as a folk music festival, a cuisine festival, rituals of coastal villages, sports competitions, kite flying and seminars to seek cooperation opportunities.

On the same day, the organising board opened a photo exhibition featuring works of Quang Ngai’s seas and islands, Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, ancient documents related to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago along with others highlighting beautiful landscapes and people of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces./.