Given the launching of the Da Nang - Ly Son inland waterway tourism route, along with the welcoming of a huge number of visitors during the 3-day Hung Kings holiday break, Da Nang is, step by step, luring tourists from both home and abroad. This optimistic signal promises the city’s flourishing tourism industry in 2022. 

During the three-day holiday break for the death anniversary of Hung Kings, Da Nang welcomed a lot of tourists . IN THE PHOTO: Tourists enjoying an art show at the Sun World Ba Na Hills Resort. Photo: THU HA

Strengthening linkages to boost tourism

Many tourists showed their excitement at experiencing a high-speed boat service connecting Da Nang with the Ly Son Island for the first time.

Mr. Le Quang Thu from Ha Noi said that he and his four family members decided to travel to the Ly Son Island on a high-speed boat, named Trung Trac, from Da Nang during their stay in the city for the 3-day Hung Kings holiday break.

As one of the first passengers of the Trung Trac high-speed boat, Mr. Thu said “Like many other tourists, we feel very excited and nervous to experience this service for the first time. Compared to before, moving directly from Da Nang to Ly Son Island is very convenient and shortens a lot of travel time".

Mr. Torten Stieler, a German nationality, excitedly said that it was the first time he had visited the Ly Son Island and experienced such a high-speed boat service.

“I see a lot of time saved. On this trip, we enjoyed delicious and attractive seafood dishes” said he.

Mr. Tran Van Trung, the founding shareholder cum a member of the Board of Directors of the Phu Quoc Express JSC, underlined that passengers on board can experience 5-star customer service with modern entertainment system and facilities and new utilities. During the 70-nautical-mile journey, they can freely admire the beauty of sea and islands of their homeland, including Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port, Quang Nam Province’s Cu Lao Cham Island and Quang Ngai Province’s Ly Son Island, along with see fishermen conducting their fishing activities at sea.

He revealed that, more ships will be put into operation in order to meet the needs of travellers in the future.

“In the coming time, the tour operator plans to open new waterway tours in Da Nang, such as Da Nang - Quang Nam Province’s Cu Lao Cham Island, and Da Nang-Quang Tri Province’s Con Co Island” added he.

Also present on the first trip by the boat from Da Nang to Ly Son Island, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Phuoc Son acknowledged that the newly-launched Da Nang - Ly Son waterway tourism route helped tourists travel conveniently, quickly and safely.

He also expressed his hope that the city’s new tourism product would attract more tourists, especially foreigners, to Da Nang.

The city leader highlighted the significance of the route in opening up many opportunities for promoting the development of tourism in Ly Son Island in particular, and Quang Ngai Province and Da Nang in general. This is a step forward in strengthening linkages and developing tourism in the key economic zone in Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands regions.

Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee Tran Hoang Tuan, remarked that the tourism connection between Da Nang and Quang Ngai Province, especially the Ly Son Island District, contributed to promoting growth and exchange of sources of domestic and international visitors.

He added the freshly-launched Da Nang - Ly Son inland waterway tourism route facilitated passengers to explore the beautiful landscapes, and cultural and historical values of sea and islands, ​​as well as promote the advantages of the marine economy, including sea and island-based tourism. At the same time, the route would contribute to driving tourism development and the consumption of products on the Ly Son Island.

Leaders of Da Nang and Quang Ngai Province presented flowers to the first 20 passengers setting foot in the Ly Son Island from Trung Trac Ship. Photo: THANH LAN - VAN HOANG

Visitor numbers to Da Nang soar

As observed on Saturday and Sunday evenings (the 9^th and 10^th days of the third lunar month), a large number of visitors and locals were seen visiting the Son Tra Night Market, watching the shows of fire breathing and water squirting at the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge, and enjoying ‘bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards) performances at the eastern side of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge.

Duong Tran Thu Trang from Binh Dinh Province said she was very impressed with the shows of fire breathing and water squirting at the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge which was considered as the "specialty" of Da Nang. Also, she enjoyed special performances in an electronic music programme entitled "Da Nang - The Ciy of Future" from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on April 9 with a modern sound system.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, during the three-day holiday break for the death anniversary of Hung Kings, some tourist attractions in the city were crowded with visitors.

In particular, the Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist area welcomed about 18,500 visitors, the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park nearly 14,000, the Mikazuki Water Park about 4,000, and the Marble Mountains Tourist Area around 4,500.

In addition, a group of 143 Thai guests, arranged by the Best tour company, arrived in Da Nang on April 10 and visited many places in the city.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that on this holiday, despite the short break, the city has organised many attractive cultural and tourism events to attract tourists. Included were the Da Nang Tourism Stimulus Programme 2022 themed ‘Enjoy Da Nang’ with the participation of more than 200 tourism businesses and service providers with many attractive and unique product packages, preferential prices and professional quality; the operation of the first high-speed boat service to bring nearly 400 tourists from Da Nang to the Ly Son Island on April 9; and applying the admission fee waiver at the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, the Museum of Da Nang, the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

The total number of tourist arrivals in Da Nang during the 3-day holiday break is estimated at 77,870, and 38,979 of them were air passengers on 262 domestic and international flights to Da Nang.

Specifically, there were six international flights from Singapore and Thailand, and 256 domestic flights from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh (Nghe An), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Pleiku (Gia Lai), Can Tho, and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang).

Also, the number of visitors to Da Nang by road from neighboring provinces and cities, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City increased significantly.

The room occupancy rates at 4 to 5-star hotels reached 50-60%, and at seaside hotels 70-90%. Some hotels were full on April 9 and 10.

During the holiday, Da Nang International Airport and the city’s railway station were also quite busy with a large number of arrivals.

Da Nang International Airport has implemented a response plan, such as requiring businesses providing ground transportation services (buses, trams, taxis, contract vehicles) to ensure adequate means of service during peak periods.

Meanwhile, taxi companies and ride-hailing transportation service providers were committed to providing a full number of vehicles during the peak period from April 9 to 11 to serve passengers.

Reporting by T.HA, T.LAN, V. HOANG – Translating by M.DUNG