Cannon fire kicks off sea festival

Vung Tau Sea Festival 2006 was launched on April 11 with eight rounds of cannon fire at the city's historical site of Bach Dinh, southern coastal Vung Tau City.

The same day, an exposition on the economic, cultural and social achievements of Vung Tau, and a seafood culinary fiesta took place at the Paradise tourist resort. Visitors will have four days, from April 11-15, to browse 820 booths at the fair and enjoy seafood prepared in various central and southern Vietnamese styles.

The cannon fire, featured for the very first time in a festival, attracted thousands of local and foreign visitors to the city and clearly reflected the festival's theme of "Echoes of the Sea."

The cannon fire commemorated a historical event when the people of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province opened fire, on the 8th day of the 1st lunar month of 1859, on French colonial warships advancing from central Danang Port in an invasion offensive of southern Gia Dinh Province. The uprising later spurred an outspread, enthusiastic anti-colonial drive throughout the southern region.

(Source: VNA)