The highlight of the festival will be a contest called “Hoa đăng Ninh Kiều hội tụ và tỏa sáng” (Ninh Kiều floral lanterns shine brightly together) which will be held at the Đi Bộ (Pedestrian) Bridge in Ninh Kiều Harbour.

Participants can submit their floral lanterns by the morning of August 19, and they will be exhibited on the nearby Khai Luông Canal until August 25.

“The event will demonstrate Ninh Kiều’s hospitality and attractiveness for both domestic and foreign tourists, especially international officials attending APEC 2017,” said Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Oanh, head of the district’s Culture and Information Bureau.

The event is a collaboration between the district’s People’s Committee and the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The festival will also feature other activities including: displays of fresh vegetables and Ninh Kiều’s traditional dishes; an exhibition called “Ninh Kiều – Cần Thơ, old and new” featuring calligraphy, paintings, photographs and portraits; đờn ca tài tử (Southern folk music) performed on a river; a Vietnamese boat race; and other traditional games.