The festival will include dance performances by artists from the UNESCO Centre for Cultural and Sports Development and the showing of several films such as “Ao lua Ha Dong” (The White Silk Dress), “Love Man Love Woman” and “San thuong” (Terrace).

One of the highlights will be a dance performance entitled “ Chuyen cua chung minh” (Our Story), performed by disabled Vietnamese artists. The play has been performed in a host of cities all over the world and has received enthusiastic cheers from audiences wherever it has been performed.

The “Constante Cambiamento”, a cultural festival held annually in Italy and the Mediterranean hosts many contemporary performances highlighting culture and the arts from many different countries across the globe.

Under the strategy, priority is to be given to the development of urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including the Lao Cai – Hanoi - Hai Phong and Hanoi - Dong Dang routes as well as the North-South Express Railway with a top speed of 350 km/h.

The country plans to upgrade existing routes and build 5,000-9,000 passenger cars and over 50,000 cargo cars, to successfully meet domestic demand as well as successfully cater to the needs of exports.

By 2050, the railway sector aims to meet at least 20 percent of the country’s passenger and cargo transport demand as well as complete the North-South Express Railway, the trans-Asia Railway and a coastal route running along the Northern Delta.

The sector plans to target the export of railway equipment by then.

2009 is the third successive year Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province has hosted this event, with the expectation of attracting even more tourists as this is the Year of the Buffalo.

The event is expected to be the biggest event held so far to display the distinctive culture and tourism features of the province, as well one which will help tourists and local residents get an overall view of Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s land and its people.

The event will also include the firing of cannons, military re-enactments of legendary battles of the anti-American war of resistance, displays of spring flowers, wine, food, photo exhibitions, traditional games, lion dances and traditional canoe races.

Chairman of the Ba Ria – Vung Tau People’s Committee Tran Minh Sang said that the event will be a chance to promote the province’s natural beauty and its tourism potential, as well being a way to show off local hospitality to tourists.

A planned series of major culture, tourism and sports events for 2009 were been announced at the opening ceremony of festival, all of which are designed to attract even more domestic and foreign tourists. In 2009, the province will have 15 events, in particular the International Kite Festival, the International Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship and the Miss World Pageant.