Bears, octopuses, and leopards, along with many other animals in myriad colors, decorated the skies of Sihanoukville during the last weekend, as the Kingdom’s first-ever kite festival celebrated the glory of one of its richest traditions.

Kites of various shapes and sizes, flown by both professional and amateur flyers, served an inspirational treat to thousands of enthusiasts from across the world who gathered at the Bay of Lights in Sihanoukville. Organized by Canopy Sands Development, a member of the Prince Holding Group, the event titled ‘Skyfest 2023’ was inaugurated by Senior Minister and Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) First Vice-President Ly Thuch, in the presence of company senior executives, top officials, and dignitaries. The theme of the event was ‘Khmer Can Fly.’

In addition to world-class kite flyers, many artists and singers descended on Sihanoukville to make the event a grand success with their performances.

Kite flyers representing China, France, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, apart from Cambodia, took part in the event and showcased their talents, which were witnessed by over 10,000 kite-flying fans.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Ly Thuch praised the Prince Group for organizing the event, which reflected the centuries-old Khmer culture and traditions.

“Our nation’s glory is flying high, and the kite masters from the region and from here are imbibing the spirit of togetherness. It is a day of great pride for me and for each Cambodian national. I express my gratitude to Canopy Sands Development and Prince Group for organizing the event with utmost dedication, hard work, and compassion for making this event possible.”

The senior minister quoted a statement made by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: “We may have different religions, different languages, and differently-colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”

He said Kofi Annan’s statement resonates with the theme of Skyfest 2023 as nine nations, including Cambodia, unitedly took the initiative to celebrate the region’s collective passion for flying kites.