Da Nang is now focusing on developing new tourism services in a bid to attract more foreign visitors, and to encourage them to extend their stay periods here, return again later, and recommend this beautiful seaside locality to others.

Foreign visitors strolling on a downtown street

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the number of Asian visitor arrivals to Da Nang has accounted the largest proportion of the total figure.  Most notably, Chinese and Korean nationals have taken the lead in the number of foreign visitors to the city over recent years.

In addition to developing its traditional foreign tourist markets, the city is now taking more effective measures to attract more visitors from the UK, France, Italy and other European countries.

In reality, as scheduled, many foreign visitors, especially young backpackers, usually take journeys to Hoi An after arriving in Da Nang by air or train, and then they enjoy motorcycle day trips to Da Nang to explore the beauty of such popular attractions as the Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, the Museum of Cham Sculptures and the Marble Mountains Tourist Area.

Like other foreigner visitors, 27-year-old German man said he likes renting a motorbike for his self-adventure trips because it is really a fun, cheap, and memorable way to get around.  According to the German tourist, renting a scooter for the day is a great way to discover beatiful landscapes here, and provides more freedom than relying on public transportation.  He added that drivers can stop when and where they like, and especially driving can offer a thrilling experience.

Mr Hoang Long, the owner of a namesake shop offering motorbikes for hire in Da Nang, said he likes serving European visitors, the majority of whom hold international driving license and can speak English- one of the world’s most spoken languages.

Mr Cao Tri Dung, the Chairman of Da Nang Travel Association cum Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the Vietnam Travel Mart, revealed that, the coming time, his company and CocoBay-the city’s largest entertainment complex- to develop new transport routes for locals and visitors from both home and abroad.

Most notably, the city authorities are planning to turn An Thuong Quarter in coastal Ngu Hanh Son District into the first tourism area catering to night-time shopping and entertainment operating around the clock.

The new project, which is expected to feature the styles of the South Bank, a significant tourist district in central London, would be bounded by 4 main streets, namely Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Ke Viem, Chau Thị Vinh Te and Ngo Thi Si.

This area will reserve 5 streets for pedestrians, namely An Thuong 1, An Thuong 2, An Thuong 3, An Thuong 4, and Tran Bach Dang.  An international shopping centre will also be built in the quarter.
The An Thuong Quarter boasts a busy tourism scene. 

It is home to 141 travel agencies, 64 hotels and guest houses and home-stays, along with 43 restaurants and 12 shopping centres.  It also hosts around 1,400 tourists a day during the peak season (between April and September) and 650 visitors each day in the low season.