Vietnam launches new attraction – paragliding over sunflower volcano

Tourists will take off for the first time during the annual Chu Dang Ya Wild Sunflower-Volcano Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai from November 11-17.

Festival-goers can get an eagle’s view of the majestic mountains clothed in wild yellow sunflowers while flying with a professional paraglider.

“Paragliding is a new attraction expected to lure more tourists to this year’s festival,” said the Chu Pah District’s head of Culture and Information Unit, Nguyen Minh Duc.

The Hanoi Paragliding Club has been conducting safety flights over the extinct Chu Dang Ya volcano in preparation for the festival.

The club’s pilots said Chu Dang Ya satisfies all requirements for paragliding, including weather, wind, and especially the beautiful scenery of the Central Highland region.

Next Friday and Saturday (November 11-12), the Son Tra Paragliding Club will give paragliding and paramotoring performances over the volcano.

Along with paragliding, the festival will feature traditional games such as tug-of-war, stilt walking, and sack races. Other activities include cross-country running past famous sightseeing spots and a walking trek through the sunflower meadows to conquer the peaks of Chu Dang Ya and Chu Nam.

Gong performances and demonstrations of traditional crafts by local Jrai and Ba Na ethnic people will also be on show.

Artisans from 14 communities in Chu Pah District will gather to show off their skills in bamboo and brocade weaving, and carving of wood and traditional music instruments.

A rice-harvest celebration – one of the most important rituals of the Jrai – will be held in La Gri Village in the foothills of Chu Dang Ya on November 12.

Local specialities and famous agricultural products will also be on sale.

Viet Nam News

Asia News Network