An international yacht festival will take place in the central province of Binh Thuan, from Jan. 15-18, 2011, Ngo Minh Chinh, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on Dec. 20.

With the theme “Ship, Sea and Sun”, the festival will feature an exhibition and performance of 200 yachts, four music gala nights, a light show along with a welcoming gala, a series of gala dinners and a closing ceremony.

Additionally, two seminars entitled, “ Yacht manufacturing, marketing and trading” and “Developing Vietnam’s maritime tourism trademark” will also be held.

The event is expected to attract 20 yachting teams from Russia, Australia, Holland, Sweden, the United States, France, Germany and Italy and is considered a stepping-stone to building Mui Ne bay into a regional yachting business centre.

The organising board had planned to hold the event earlier, from Dec. 8-11, but it was delayed due to bad weather./.