HANOI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival kicked off in Vietnam's central Da Nang city on Saturday.

Teams from Belgium, Brazil, China, Britain, Finland, Italy, Russia, and Vietnam are to describe the beauty and culture of typical rivers in their countries during the month-long festival themed "Stories by the Rivers," Vietnam News Agency reported.

They will come together for a pyrotechnic competition in five nights themed "Origin", "Seed", "Love", "Colors" and "Going out to Sea." The festival, which lasts from June 1 to July 7, will also feature art performances and street carnivals every weekend.

After Vietnam and Russia performed during the curtain-raiser on June 1, Brazil and Belgium will take the stage on June 8. Italy and Finland will play the third night on June 15, while China and Britain will perform on June 22. The top two teams will be selected for the final on July 6.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the city welcomed nearly 7.7 million holidaymakers in 2018, up 15.5 percent against 2017, including roughly 2.9 million foreign tourists, up 23.3 percent.