Events (sporting, cultural, business etc.), and unique tourism products, are increasingly important motivators for tourism, figuring prominently in the development and marketing of most destinations and playing a growing role in destination competitiveness.

Many people, especially the young, flocking to the ‘winter street’ opposite the Four Points by Sheraton Da Nang for photo shootings

For that reason, Da Nang is planning to organise attractive events, and develop new innovative tourism products, in a bid to promote the city as an attractive destinations for travellers from both home and overseas, thereby significantly contributing to increasing tourist numbers in the city.

Just late last year, rows of leafless rosewood trees along coastal Vo Nguyen Giap street in Son Tra District, and a vacant land lot full of concrete pipes at the end of Le Van Duyet Street, emerged as new highly-inviting photo shooting spots for Da Nang people and tourists, especial the young.

Or most recently, the Son Tra Village Café, nestled on Le Duc Tho Street, has become increasingly popular with those who love photography. Every corners of this highly inviting place is built in scale and meticulous, showing the romantic beauty of a paradise in a city of mountains, rivers and beaches. The highlights here are a giant bird's nest made of sturdy climbing plants, and a large net bed hanging among trees with pure white mattresses as if you are in the cloud.

Nguyen Thuy Nga residing in Hai Chau District’s Hoa Cuong Bac Ward remarked that there are so many beautiful places to visit in Da Nang, but the number of distinctive check-in venues for locals and tourists is still modest. Therefore, she stressed the need for Da Nang to create new and inviting check-in venues to increase visitor numbers in the city.

Also in late 2020, the municipal Department of Tourism organised the 'Da Nang Welcomes in New Year 2021' Festival at the Sun World Danang Wonders (Asia Park) with the aim to diversify the city’s tourism products, hereby helping tempt back tourists.

The event delivered a great line-up of vibrant and exciting activities across Da Nang, including cyclo parades, free night-time sightseeing boat tours, street music performances, a New Year countdown party, the Noodle Festival, and more.

Under the specific roadmap for driving the city’s tourism growth during the 2021-2025 period, Da Nang will prioritise developing tourism products associated with night-time economy. Included will be the Bach Dang - Nguyen Van Troi - Tran Hung Dao pedestrian promenade, nighttime entertainment services along the Vo Nguyen Giap - Hoang Sa - Truong Sa coastal route and extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, and some ‘Da Nang by Night’-themed entertainment activities across the city.

Director of the Hoang Anh Viet Tourism Company Pham Dinh Hoang underlined a must-do for Da Nang to map out highly-effective long-term plans to increase visitor numbers in the city. In particular, the city should determine what types of tourism products should be developed, what kinds of customers should be targeted and how to attract tourists to the city.

“Special attention should be paid to promoting marketing campaigns through media, such as television, radio, print, and online platforms, so as to advertise Da Nang as a dynamic, friendly and safe destination for both domestic and international tourists” Director Hoang emphasised.

By SONG KHUE - Translated by M.D