Vietnamese impresses kite fans with collection of 200 giant kites
Thursday, June 29, 2023, 15:20 GMT+7
A Vietnamese man has gained the attention of kite fans in his country thanks to a collection of around 200 giant kites.
Nguyen Duy Phuc, residing in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, had been flying regular-sized kites his whole life when he discovered a video of people flying giant kites in Europe six years ago.
Now Phuc is a pioneer in professionally flying giant kites in Vietnam, with his team members sometimes reaching up to 30 for a kite flying session.
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| Giant kites fly in the sky above a field in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
Phuc’s collection of giant kites is diverse but it mostly includes animal shapes such as squids, whales, stingrays, bears, cats, dogs, bugs, and more, with lengths ranging from 2.5 to 100 meters.
He bought them from China, New Zealand, Germany, France, and some other countries.
Phuc sells kites and offers giant kite flying services for events across Vietnam and abroad.
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| Nguyen Duy Phuc prepares to fly a big kite at a field in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
In Ho Chi Minh City, Phuc often flies his kites for fun and to meet with other enthusiasts in suburban areas such as Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh Districts as well as the fringes of District 7.
“Safety is my top priority when flying giant kites,” Phuc said.
“I’ve always wanted to ensure safety for myself and the people watching me flying the kites, as well as for infrastructure such as roads, traffic, and power lines.
“Venue and space for kites are very important, plain fields are the best options.”
Weather and wind direction also matter for flying kites.
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| Giant kites are prepared to take off at a field in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
According to Phuc, kite flying has been a favorite pastime for generations in Vietnam and he wanted to push it to the next level.
“Besides satisfying my passion, flying giant kites also helps ease stress,” Phuc said.
Huynh Thi Kim Anh from Hoc Mon District was among the passers-by who were attracted to Phuc’s giant kites in the sky.
“I was passing by this area and saw so many kites flying that I stopped to check out,” Anh said.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a huge kite so I’m truly excited.
“This also reminds me of my childhood but we only had paper kites then.”
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| A woman poses for a photo with a giant kite at a field in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
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