In the heart of An Thuong Tourist Streets quarter, My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, there is a neighborhood where many foreigners live. Some people stay for a long time, while others only stay for a few days as stop-over during their travel itinerary. In fact, their presence creates a different community but is a clear intersection between foreign cultures and indigenous people.

On the contrary the tranquil vibe during the day time, the whole An Thuong Tourist Streets quarter is bustling on the evening with the presence of many foreign tourists. Photo: NVCC

"Common home" for those living far away from their homeland

The An Thuong tourist streets quarter focuses mainly on Ngo Thi Si - Hoang Ke Viem - Le Quang Dao streets, with a boom in bars, pubs and restaurants located close together, decorated in many colours. If you look carefully, you will realise the foreign culture that the owner intentionally make arrangements to attract customers. The shops here welcome customers from 7:00 p.m. every day and can extend their service hours until the new dawn gradually rises from Pham Van Dong Beach.

The most beautiful and busiest time in this tourist streets quarter is when the sun disappears over the horizon and the street lights are turned on. Shops and stores also take advantage of the opportunity to ‘show off their appearance’ with colorful flashing lights. The later it is at night, the more people, mainly tourists arrive, and the whole streets turn bustling. If you patiently go through each street, namely Ngo Thi Si, Hoang Ke Viem and Le Quang Dao, you will clearly understand the transformation of this place, just like how it rose from a poor coastal residential area to catch up with the city’s rhythm with the vibrant and constantly developing life of a new, modern and culturally diverse urban area.

Mr. Ammy from Singapore, the owner of Tom's bar located on Ngo Thi Si Street, always welcomes his customers with a warm smile. He said that the first bar he owned was located in Hoi An in eneighbouring Quang Nam Province but the impact of prolonged COVID-19 outbreaks made it difficult to operate and he had no solution but close down it.

The An Thuong neighborhood is the destination chosen by Mr. Ammy because the rent is only approximately half that in Hoi An as well as the potential for development is great in the near future. In order to attract customers, he decorated a row of the national flags of many countries around the world on the front of the restaurant and adhered to the eye-catching service motto.

After COVID-19, business activities in Da Nang gradually improved, Mr. Ammy many times welcomed his family members who stayed in the city for travel. His sister also rented space and opened a swimwear shop right next door. Easy travel combined with a stable place to live shortens the distance between two different countries and their cultures.

Mr. Byrne Darrer Wade, 56, an Australian national, now runs bar/sport business on Ngo Thi Si Street. He is a single man with a kind smile. Byrne was enchanted to visit the An Thuong neighborhood during a trip with friends in 2019 and then he decided to stay here for a long time because he really loves the fresh air and clean, beautiful beaches. Byrne quickly integrated into life here without any problems. His bar is a regular rendezvous for many older foreigners living in An Thuong. Some people are experts working in industrial parks, businesses, schools while others are tourists, coming to this venue through social networking sites or referrals or recommendations from friends.

The formation of neighbourhood for foreigners in the heart of An Thuong quarter is clear evidence of the migration process that has continued throughout the development of human history. Developing countries with tourism - service and information technology industries that are on the verge of establishing a foothold in the region as well as in the world like Viet Nam have an irresistible attraction to foreigners. The country's open-door policy for international integration in recent decades has contributed to the image of Viet Nam, and Da Nang in particular as dynamic and ready to welcome friends all over the world all year round. At the same time, creating job opportunities and improving people's intellectual level through taking the advantages of the migration process and during the period of coexistence and cultural exchange.

Le Thi Quynh, a third year student of the Department of Hotel Administration, the private Dong A University found a job as a counter staff at Tom's bar with a salary of VND7 million/month from her friend's recommendation. In addition to helping her family cover the university tuition burden, part-time work also gives Quynh the opportunity to improve her English and communication skills that are truly necessary for a student studying hotel management like her.

Every day for every resident in Tay An Thuong neighborhood is an interesting and enriching experience because they both gain more knowledge about the culture and life of indigenous people and can find familiar things of their own  hometown right in taking care of their residence, place of business or suddenly meeting a new compatriot.

Like Mr. Byrne, Mr. Michel, 33, from the state of Brandenburg, northeastern Germany, decided to stay in Da Nang after a trip to cure his depression. After nearly 6 years of settling down in My An Ward, in addition to his main job at a software company, Michael teamed up with a Vietnamese friend, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Khiet, 26, to start their own business.

Despite differences in skin colour, ethnicity, language, and culture, Michael and Nguyen Thanh Khiet have cultivated a beautiful friendship. They combine well to run and maintain the Corner bar/pub business quite successfully. “I met Michael at a New Year's event organised for foreigners. After many conversations, we realised the common ground was our love for business, which prompted us to open Corner. Working in groups is not easy, especially when the companion is a foreigner, with many differences in language and culture. Fortunately, with encouragement and regular interaction, we have found a common voice. ”, Khiet said.

The dream of ‘global citizen’

Unlike other areas with purely indigenous populations, An Thuong covers only a few streets but it is a place to stay for many foreigners, coming from nearly 20 countries around the world, according to statistics from My An Ward People's Committee. Most of them make a living from operating restaurants, bars/pubs, and entertainment venues, while the rest are experts and workers working in industrial parks and businesses across the city. There are also many people who get married to Vietnamese people, living in a multicultural environment and having close integration with the indigenous residents.

Interestingly, many young Vietnamese people living or working here find it easier to get a job increased along with the formation and development of An Thuong quarter. The experiences of communicating, collaborating and working with foreigners are even more practical when An Thuong is shaped with a ‘multi-cultural’ environment.

Tram Anh, 19, residing on Hoang Dieu Street, Hai Chau District, is a part-time waitress at Corner pub.  In addition to her salary of VND6 million/month, she is quite highly satisfied with her job when she has the opportunity to practice English skills, connect with friends from many countries without geographical or linguistic barriers.

“Working here, I learned to be polite and respect privacy from Japanese and Australia guests; or the generosity and interest in interpersonal communication from Russian ones. After nearly 3 months of working at the shop, my English speaking skills have significantly improved. I will try to work hard, accumulate experience and knowledge.", Anh said.

Meanwhile, foreign citizens living and working in An Thuong expressed satisfaction with the security environment, stable order, fresh climate and suitable living standards. In particular, the desire for a community with many people from other countries is gradually becoming a reality.

“I have travelled to many places in Viet Nam, and decided to choose Da Nang as a place to settle down. Six years ago, not many Germans lived and worked in this area, but now things are different, many Germans or those from other European countries come here and settle down permanently. I thought about getting married, having children and living the rest of my life here. I'm very satisfied. I love Da Nang!”, Michael, the owner of Corner restaurant excitedly said.

Through long-term efforts to shape a true nightlife quarter, recently, with the consensus of the people, the city’s relevant agencies have invested in upgrading roads, planting more trees. planning each business area as well as actively organising festivals and events imbued with cultural identities from many countries to gradually perfect the scenery, creat a lively atmosphere with authentic international experiences in the An Thuong nightlife area.

Mr. Huynh Duc Tho, Chief of Office of My An Ward People's Committee, said that the local authorities has established a model citizen protection and civil defense board as well as to raise awareness of sanitation and common living environment.

More than just a living space, An Thuong has unique potential to form an ‘international neighborhood’ with global citizens, becoming a highlight converging rich and diverse cultural values, bringing the breath of the times, helping the young generation broaden their points of views, and integrating with international friends.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by A.THU