Visitors to Da Nang no longer have to struggling finding a decent toilet to relieve themselves during their outings as restaurant, hotel, business and service establishments across Son Tra District are joining a campaign to voluntarily open their free-of-charge restrooms to the public. This is a good way to contribute to promoting the image of friendly and hospitable Da Nang tourism.

A public servant from the Son Tra District administration’s (right) guides the owner of a service establishment to participate in the ‘Comfort as home’ model. Photo: NHAT HA

The Son Tra District administration has resumed an initiative where licensed businesses open their toilet facilities to all anyone in need, without demanding a purchase or charging a fee. Pedestrians only have to find establishments with a logo of a blue smiley face ‘Free restroom’ with the message ‘Comfort as home’ when they need to answer the call of nature.

Son Tra District is always a favourite destination of tourists because there are many accommodation hotels, food service businesses and beautiful beaches. Therefore, the toilet model ‘Comfort as home’ will very useful for both residents and visitors when hanging out on streets.

The model of encouraging hospitality service providers to offer free toilets for residents and visitors does help to reduce the situation of going to the toilet at the wrong place, an act blighting the natural environment and urban landscape.

Ms. Tran Thi Thuong Huyen, a tourist from the capital city of Ha Noi, who is staying at a hotel on Pham Van Dong Street said that when she was introduced to Da Nang's ‘Comfort as home’ model, she was very impressed with this very good idea because it help residents and visitors solve their needs. Tourist cities like Da Nang have taken care of these little things to make visitors feel more comfortable when traveling.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen The Toan, a tourist from the southern province of Binh Duong said that this very good model in Da Nang needs to be further replicated in the streets busy with a lot of tourists. When service businesses participate in the ‘Comfort as home’ model, visitors will be more confident.

Currently, along some major tourist routes in Son Tra District such as Ho Nghinh, Tran Hung Dao, Mai Hac De, Vo Nguyen Giap and Pham Van Dong, locals and tourists can easily find free restrooms.

Ms. Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, the Director of Roliva Hotel located on Pham Van Dong Street, An Hai Bac Ward said: “This is a good model, bringing convenience to tourists when traveling. In fact, for service businesses, the infrastructure and utilities are already available, adding this friendly identity logo ‘Comfort as home’ will help visitors feel more comfortable. This is also a good way for visitors to have more positive reviews and evaluations about Da Nang's tourist sites and services…”.

According to Vice Chairman of Son Tra District People's Committee Nguyen Hoang Viet, the model of calling for service businesses to made public toilets available for the public has been deployed by the district administration in response to the year of ‘Urban civilisation and culture’.

In the immediate future, the Son Tra authorities eye to encourage at least 50 establishments to participate in this model. Till date, about 39 establishments have pledge to join the model.

The representative of a family-run establishment in Son Tra District signs a commitment in writing and receives the logo of ‘Comfort as home’. Photo: CAO MINH

It is known that this initiative was first applied in 2015 in Hai Chau District but it was then in hiatus due to the impacts of by COVID-19 and unfavourable weather conditions.

The Hai Chau administration plans to resume this ‘Comfort as home’ model in the coming time. In addition, the upgrade of some public deteriorated toilets to serve locals and tourists will be completed before the upcoming holidays of National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1).

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the model of offering free restrooms will contribute to bringing a friendly and convenient tourism environment for visitors. It is hoped that, in the coming time, this model will be spread more widely with the participation of more hospitality service providers so that visitors to Da Nang are really satisfied.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU