In an attempt to attract even more domestic and foreign investment, apart from the issuance of preferential policies, Da Nang has made itself more welcoming to foreign businesses thanks to its healthy living environment, friendly and helpful residents, good security, many public utilities, and other strong advantages.

A disciplined working atmosphere at Tokyo Keiki Precision Technology company

Ms Midori Takeuchi, one of the founders of the Sakura Friends Café located on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, said the most impressive thing in the city is the local residents who are always friendly, and willing to help others.

The Japanese national added that when she set foot in this city and faced some obstacles in the new living environment, fortunately, she received much kind help from enthusiastic city-dwellers.

Also having sentimental attachment to the city, Mr Sakurai Hiroyuki from Japan, the General Director of the Japanese-invested Mabuchi Motor Danang company, highly praised his employees, Da Nang natives, who are very hard-working and kind-hearted. They have always complied with the company’s regulations and gained higher-than-expected results at work.

Fully concurring with the above Japanese investor, Mr Christian John Hunter from Australia, the Director of the Pageworth company, said the majority of his employees are local citizens who, in his remarks, are very diligent, disciplined, friendly, and honest.

According to the latest statistics recently released by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), about 73.5% of the surveyed businesses showed their satisfaction about good security situation in Da Nang, whilst more than 80% said that the local police are always willing to help businesses retrieve their stolen properties.

Another outstanding advantage Da Nang boasts is that it is now home to modern infrastructure and convenient transport services.

Now the city takes the pride in seeing a boom in the number of luxury seaside holiday resorts offering high-end services, such as the InterContinental, Crown Plaza, Hyatt Regency, Fusion Maia, Pullman, Olalani and Vinpearl Luxury.

Furthermore, there are such international-standard schools as FPT, Singapore International School @ Danang, and Pegasus International UniCollege and the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, in addition to high-end entertainment and shopping areas.

Mr Motoshi Mitobe, the Chairman of Japan’s Tokyo Keiki Precision Technology Company, who now lives in an apartment block on Ly Tu Trong Street in Hai Chau District, said he is very pleased with convenient utilities here.

However, the Japanese ex-pat suggested that the city should focus on developing public transport services, especially convenient means of transport for foreigners currently living in the city.

Appeals for domestic and foreign investment are being made to develop accommodations for foreign experts, researchers and employees working in the Da Nang Hi-tech Park at an estimated cost of 824 billion VND.

The project is expected to consist of luxury villas, terraced houses with gardens, and high-end flats.

In reality, the city’s transport infrastructure system is the most modern of its kind in Central Viet Nam, with convenient transportation via roads, railways, airways, waterways and seaports.

Moreover, it is no denying that the city is the biggest educational hub in the region with comprehensive training system, being home to a total of 24 universities and junior colleges, 19 professional secondary schools, and 59 vocational training centres.

Mr Le Minh Phuc, the General Director of VinaCapital Da Nang cum Deputy Head of the Da Nang FDI Businesses’ Club, asked the city authorities to join forces with ministries and relevant national agencies to faciliate eligible overseas Vietnamese and foreigners to buy properies in the city.

An overseas Vietnamese man, Mr Tran Si Chuong, the Principal Partner of the TranInvest Pte. Ltd, a private equity investment group with a focus on healthcare and education opportunities in Viet Nam, remarked that, given its great development potential, Da Nang is totally eligible for becoming a ‘global city’ on par with Kong Kong and Singapore. These destinations have been amongst the most competitive nations in the world out of 137 countries ranked in the 2017 – 2018 edition of the Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum.

In particular, Mr Chuong underlined that it is high time for Da Nang to develop a 100-year-term master plan to develop it into a ‘global city’ in a bid to lay a firm foundation for the sustainable development.