The Festival ended with a fireworks display and traditional music performance by artists from both northern and southern regions.

Addressing attendees at the event, deputy chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, Le Xuan Than, who is also head of the Festival’s organising board, said that more than 50 culture and sports activities were held during the week-long festival, leaving a deep impression on both domestic and local visitors. The Festival helped to build Nha Trang’s image as a civilized, friendly and hospitable city boasting a beautiful landscapes of blue sea, white sand and sunny weather, he added.

Mr Than went on to say that the 2009 Nha Trang Sea Festival also aimed to introduce Khanh Hoa’s great potential for economic and tourism development and send a message of environmental protection to both local people and foreign friends.

During the Festival, eight new records were set, including the largest number of people taking morning exercise, the largest dragon made of scrap metal, the longest lacquer painting on environmental protection, the largest concert of traditional instrumentalists, the largest rice noodle pot, the largest collection of shells, the longest flower-decorated procession car, and the largest embroidery painting.