Da Nang’s Son Tra District boasts many inviting tourist sites such as the Son Tra Peninsula, beautiful beaches, along with numerous international-standard seaside hotels and resorts.

Visitors at the Son Tra Night Market

Thanks to this, the district has welcomed a large number of visitors from both home and abroad over recent years.

Most recently, the district authorities have implemented a project on enhancing the quality of tourism services, and building a safe and friendly tourism environment during the 2016-2020 period, and in the years ahead.

The intention is to offer even more attractive tourism products in a bid to satisfy the growing demand of visitors.

Most notable amongst the district’s tourism products is the Son Tra Night Market located along sections of Mai Hac De and Ly Nam De streets which officially opened to the public last September.

After first 7 months of operation, the market has attracted a large number of locals and visitors.

Apart from buying souvenirs, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes and watch amazing performances by local chefs.

Ms Ho Thi Thien from Phu Yen Province said she visited some of the city's popular attractions in the daytime, and then went to the Son Tra Night Market, enjoyed local specialties and watched the dragon’s head at the eastern end of the Rong Bridge breathing fire and squirting water from its mouth in the night time. All these things brought wonderful experience to her.

She, however, suggested that small traders should diversify their items in order to satisfy tourists’ growing demand.

In addition to the Son Tra Night Market, the district authorities will focus on rebuilding the Ha Than, An Hai Bac and Mai markets, as well as upgrading the Phuoc My and Nai Hien Dong markets in combination with tourism services.

Moreover, a specialised area selling fresh seafood dishes on Vo Nguyen Giap will be established, whilst an eating area, a seafood market and a seafood cooking service will be created in the district.

The local authorities will join forces with the municipal Department of Tourism to conduct surveys amongst local residents about the establishment of a pedestrian area associated with entertainment services and night market on a section of Tran Hung Dao between the Han River Bridge to the Rong (Dragon) Bridge in the future.

Greater efforts will be made to develop community tourism at the Tho Quang Beach  and the Man Thai beaches.

More effective measures will be taken to gradually improve the quality and scale of such local festivals as the ‘Cau Ngu’ (Fish Worshipping) Festival for fishermen, book week, and street parade of live music and dancing.

Mr Nguyen Dac Xung, Vice Chairman of the Son Tra District People’s Committee, also pointed out some shortcomings in the implementation of the project.

In particular, tourism products have yet to be attractive to visitors, whilst illegal street vendors are still found in the locality.

Therefore, in the coming time, the district authorities will make every effort to stop the harassment of tourists, and deal with illegal street vendors at popular attractions, accelerate administrative reforms, and create safer and opener investment environment for investors.

Besides, in attempting to enhance the quality of tourism services, the local authorities will join forces with the city-based Vocational Junior College to organise training programmes on restaurant and hotel services meeting the Viet Nam Tourism Occupational Skills Standards (VTOS).

English courses for Son Tra night market’s small traders, and Korean and English others for managers and staff members of restaurants, will also be organised.