Da Nang has been bustling with tourists again as it has seen a sharp increase in the number of domestic and international tourist arrivals with tourist attractions and entertainment places crowded with visitors. Tourist establishments and companies are making every effort to refresh their products and services as well as develop new ones in a bid to attract more tourists in the coming time.

Hosting visitors from international travel agents and media agencies who conduct familiarisation trips (more commonly known as FAM trips) to explore Da Nang is the best way to connect with potential travellers and attract them to the city. In the photo: A FAM trip delegation from South African travel agencies conducting a survey at special national relic site Marble Mountains. Photo: THU HA

Cyclo tours are back

Da Nang cyclo tours has been brought back since mid-2022 after a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, Da Nang tour by cyclo was one of the tourism products that have become popular among international cruise tourists, especially those from South Korea and China. Currently, locals and tourists get more familiar with the image of a long line of cyclos on inner- city streets after the city saw the return of international tourists. Foreigners taking Da Nang cyclo tours at this time mainly come from South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan (China).

After taking nearly 40- minute cyclo tour on such streets as Bach Dang, Tran Phu, and the September 2, Ms. Lee Ha Eun from South Korea expressed her delight at enjoying an amazing cyclo tour to explore Da Nang. She said that she had heard a lot about Da Nang but this is the first time she has visited the city. She added that if she is given an opportunity to return to Da Nang, she will take a tour around the city by cyclo again.

It is known that the Da Nang cyclo team now has 7 groups with each consisting of 10 to 12 members, and they are assigned to pick up tourists at different points such as the Han Market, the Da Nang Cathedral, known to the locals as “Nha Tho Con Ga” (Rooster Cathedral), in front of the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

Mr. Tran Dinh Chot, the leader of Da Nang Cyclo Team’s Group 6 said that the team’s members are very excited to go back to their old jobs in order to earn income after international tourists returned to the city. The majority of the tourists taking cyclo tours are pre-booked groups. However, Mr. Chot said that the number of the tourists taking this tour type is not much as tourist coaches often bring their guests to local attractions.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thinh, the leader of the Da Nang Cyclo Team under the management of the municipal Tourism Promotion Center, the cyclo team’s members are long-time workers, and they are so friendly and attentive despite disruptions of their jobs due to COVID-19. They always keep their guests sastified through keeping their cyclos clean, as well as keeping their warm attitude towards tourists.

Dressed in the team’s uniform, almost all cyclo drivers are always helpful and friendly towards their customers, especially foreigners. Visitors often dub cyclo drivers as a living dictionary as they can narrate detailed stories about the city in the past and at the present.

Interestingly, they also have a bunch of great tips, what to do, where to go, what to eat, where and how to buy souvenirs in the city at the most reasonable prices as they have basic knowledge of English and Korean languages, thereby making foreign tourists satisfied.

A great number of foreign tourists prefer the cheap, convenient and unique three-wheel vehicle providing them with an unforgettable impression, and that would be pity if missed.. Photo: T.H

Target to welcome more FAM trip delegations

In addition to offering cyclo tours, conducting Da Nang destination marketing campaigns at both home and abroad, the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre will focus on welcoming FAM trip delegations to conduct a suvery on the city’s tourism products and services in 2023. More recently, a FAM trip delegation from South Africa, including tour operators and top travel companies in Cape Town and Johannesburg visited Da Nang to seek tourism products and services suitable to South African travellers in an attempt to bring them to Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole.

During their nearly 5 day- stay in Da Nang, the delegation spent time visiting such popular tourist attractions as Sun World Ba Na Hills, Nui Than Tai Hot Springs Park, special national relic site Marble Mountains, the Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, APEC Sculpture Garden, Son Tra Night Market, Dragon Bridge. In addition, South African guests enjoyed an Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) show and conducted a survey on luxury hotels and resorts in the city.

“We are really impressed with the hospitality of the local people, the unique natural beauty and delicious food in Da Nang. Your city is now home to many world class facilities such as InterContinental Sun Peninsula Resort and Furama resort. After this trip, we will introduce Da Nang’s tourism products suitable to travellers in South Africa” said Mrs Wendy Kathleen Goutier, Travel Product Manager, Cape Town, South Africa.

Sharing the same opinion as Mrs Wendy Kathleen Goutier, Mr. Aadil Esack, XL Travel Product Manager, Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighted amazing experience from his FAM trip to Da Nang, as well as expressed deep impression with stories on Da Nang’s culture and its Cultural Heritage.

The Municipal Tourism Promotion Center also organized a program to connect the South African FAM trip delegation with the city’s tourism businesses in order to create opportunities for them to set up a business partnership in efforts to bring more international tourists to Da Nang.

According to Deputy Director of the Municipal Tourism Promotion Center Huynh Thi Huong Lan, in 2023, Da Nang is expected to welcome many international FAM trip delegations to conduct survey on tourist attractions, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) tourism, tourist accommodation establishments and other products and services in Da Nang and its neighbours. Included are two FAM trip visitor groups from India and South Africa in February 2023, Turkish FAM trip delegation in late February, an international golf FAM trip delegation in March, an international MICE FAM trip delegation in the second quarter of 2023, along with domestic FAM trip visitors.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by H.L