Da Nang is looking to tap into the enormous economic potential of its nightlife as its authorities have unveiled many effective measures to diversify local tourism products and services, especially night-time ones. Encouragingly, highly appreciating these solutions, the city-based tourism businesses show their willingness to join their forces with the local administration to make Da Nang a ‘sleepless destination’ in the eye of both domestic and foreign tourists.

Shopping and entertainment venues stimulate visitors’ spending. Tourists are pictured shopping at a local night market.

The municipal government has recently underlined a must-do to form ‘sleepless’ beaches highlighting a variety of highly inviting night-time entertainment services. Included will be campsites, specialised foot massage and reflexology services and film projections on beaches along the Truong Sa - Vo Nguyen Giap - Hoang Sa and Nguyen Tat Thanh coastal routes.

Besides, such 24/7 entertainment services as folk dancing, street musical performance  and arts lighting shows will be launched on a certain section of Vo Nguyen Giap coastal street between its intersections with Ngo Thi Si and Nguyen Van Thoai streets.

In a similar vein, the An Thuong tourist quarter will be expanded into Nguyen Van Thoai Street to make itself more attractive to visitors.

Noticeably, the ‘Da Nang Dragon Dome’ site, featuring a capacity of accommodating 300 guests per show, will be opened to public in February 2020 on Pham Van Dong Street. Accordingly, visitors to this venue will be treated to arts performances using 3D Mapping technology promoting Da Nang’s culture, in addition to exploring souvenir display areas and other auxiliary services here.

Another noticeable plan is the upgrade of the existing Pham Hong Thai food street into a unique night-time food selling area showing off traditional dishes of Da Nang, and Viet Nam at large. Similarly, a seafood quarter will also make its debut on a section of busy Nguyen Van Thoai Street.

Furthermore, heed will be paid to encouraging riverside restaurant and bar service clusters to east of a section of the 2 September Street which stretches from the APEC Park to Tran Thi Ly Bridge to operate until 2:00am.

It is also a worth praising idea to launch the stimulus programme ‘Night-time shopping week in Da Nang’, open the first duty-free trading centre, develop 24/7 convenience stores, and stimulate shopping centres along Le Duan fashion street, at the markets of Han and Con to operate through midnight.

Last, but not least, more favourable conditions will be created for the opening of such key projects as the cultural and entertainment park to southeast of the 2 September Peace Monument, a complex of construction works serving the Da Nang International Fireworks Festivals, a Japanese-style night-time quarter on Xuan Thieu Beach and an international culinary village in Cam Le District.

Members from local dancing clubs are seen participating in the 2019 Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous programme

According to domestic experts, it is at night that tourists tend to spend the most money, as 70% of Viet Nam’s tourism revenue comes from nighttime activities and services. The absence of quality nightlife was critical to the tourism industry as tourists were not interested in returning to the country while locals earned less than they could. If nightlife services are left under- invested, tourists will have nowhere to go and spend their money. It is such a waste. Therefore, a day’s holiday in this seaside beautiful city could not be wrapped up just before midnight.

Hoang Xuan Van, the Deputy Director of the city-based Sao Hoang Nguyen Co., Ltd., the organiser of the ‘Charming Da Nang’ programme, underlined a need to bring such traditional arts activities as ‘Bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards) and ourdoor spectacles closer to locals and visitors. Of special notes, locals and visitors will immerse themselves into the bustling and joyful ambiance by participating in these interesting activities.

Fully concurring with Van, Nguyen Nhu Nam, the General Director of the Viet Nam Travel Mart Tourism Joint Stock Company, said, tourism activities, especially night-time ones for tourists, are essential for the city to lure more travellers.

He, therefore, suggested that the city create specialised areas exclusively for night-time entertainment services which are totally separated from residential areas, hereby avoiding adversely affecting the lives of local inhabitants. In reality, not only European holiday-makers but also those from Asia show their keen interest in shopping, amusement and cuisine services as a relaxing way to experience the bustling urban vibes.