VOV: Could you tell us about the purpose and significance of the 100-year Sam Son Tourism Festival?

Mr Que: Sam Son is a national tourist site, which is of great advantage to tourism development, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.

Sam Son Beach is famous for being one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam as it is close to Doc Cuoc Temple, Co Tien (Fairy) Pagoda and other tourist spots.

The organisation of the festival is of great significance as it aims to highlight the tremendous achievements recorded by the Party Organisation and people in northern Thanh Hoa province in general and by Sam Son township in particular. The festival will provide a good opportunity for Sam Son to introduce its potential and advantages for tourism development, to call for more investment and raise public awareness about the importance of boosting sustainable tourism development.

During this year’s festival season, Sam Son has set a target of attracting 1 million tourists thanks to long holidays to mark the Southern Liberation Day, May Day and the Death Anniversary of the Hung King.

The Festival Organisation Board hopes that this year’s number of tourists will be much higher than last year’s figure.

VOV: How will the festival programme unfold?

Mr Que: The 100-year Sam Son Tourism Festival under the theme “Legendary Sam Son” is to be held from April 28 to May 1 and will cover diverse cultural activities.

An impressive opening ceremony scheduled for April 28 will tell the story of the development process of Sam Son in different stages. Besides this, a special artistic performance along with a firework display, folk games and festive activities such as Square Cake (Banh Chung) and Moon-shaped rice cake (Banh Day) making, and Youth Camping activities will leave a good impression on domestic and foreign tourists. On this occasion, the Organisation Board has invited some troupes from Phu Tho, Ninh Binh and Thua Thien-Hue provinces to give folk performances so as to make the festival more attractive and impressive.

On April 26, the Sam Son township People’s Committee will cooperate with Thanh Hoa Radio and TV station to hold cultural exchanges with people taking part in a programme called ”Sam Son in retrospect”, including revolutionary cadres, political prisoners released after 1973 and students who have moved from the south to the north after 1954.

We have developed a special tourism programme for tourists to enjoy. Visitors to Sam Son can not only see the blue sea and sun-bathe on the long beach but also participate in a host of cultural activities and attractive tours such as “discover the Sam Son legend”, “a journey to capital cities” and “returning to historical villages” to go sighting and visit two historical relics of the Ho Dynasty and Lam Kinh Citadels, Tu Thuc Cave, Mai An Tiem Temple and Than Phu Gate.

During the festival, a number of events will be held, including a beach volleyball cup, “Sam Son Summer 2007” tennis, badminton and table tennis tournaments, and water-sports shows such as water skiing, parachuting, and jet boating performed by professional athletes with the participation of tourists. There will also be numerous other cultural and sport events during the festival like fishing as part of the "fish worshipping ceremony " (Cau Ngu).

VOV: Can you tell us about preparations for the festival?

Mr Que: The town has to do a lot of work to hold the festival. The organization of the opening and closing ceremonies and planning stages, trade fair and service stalls have been entrusted to certain units to carry out. The town has basically cleared up all snack-bars on pavements, installed signposts and planted trees to make the scenery more attractive.

The town has also invested in infrastructure, upgraded water supply systems and information and communications network, and lighting system, public projects and relics such as Doc Cuoc Temple and new road to Truong Le Mountain.

We plan to organize around 22 training courses for around 3,000 cyclists, cameramen, vendors and tourist guides by April 20. All local Party, authorities and people are actively making for the festival.

VOV: Thank you very much.