300,000 pack West End to see Vietnam fireworks debut

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vietnam made its international fireworks debut last night in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

Police estimate 300,000 people packed the West End to see the dazzling display, choreographed to such songs as Canadian ditty Four Strong Winds, Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion and various movie themes.

Lindsey Houghton of the VPD characterizes the night as very family-oriented with no major incidents.

“Chief Jim Chu was at the Broadway/Commercial SkyTrain station and he thought there was less liquor coming into the downtown, which is a good thing, because that means less potential for alcohol-fueled violence,” Houghton noted.

He says visitors are taking notice.

“I’ve talked to a lot of citizens, and I just spoke with some people from England and they are amazed at how civilized this was with so many people down here.”

Police did arrest two people for being drunk in public, and took away a bow and arrow from someone else.

This year the Celebration of Light runs only three nights. Brazil is up next on Wednesday, while Italy wraps things up next Saturday.

Boats collide near Third Beach

Two boats collided after last night’s show.

Steve Laleune with Vancouver Fire explains it happened near Third Beach at Stanley Park.

“Two boats [were] involved, an 18-footer and a 40-foot plus pleasure craft. The 18-foot boat was taken onto the land a put on a trailer.”

Laleune says luckily no one was seriously injured. “It’s sounds like it was a crash of some sort, but it doesn’t sound like they’re looking for teeth.”

Two people did suffer minor injuries.

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