Tourism has become a bright spot amid Da Nang’s economic picture and is considered an important driving force for the city’s economic sector this year.

Visitors taking a cyclo tour in Da Nang

Travel highlights

During the year, a wide range of fascinating tourism events, services and activities have been regularly organised in the city, attracting a large number of tourists.

Included are the Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival; the Hai Chau Village Communal House Festival; the opening programme of the Da Nang Beach Tourism Season; the Hoa Bac Tourism Week; the Da Nang Asian Film Festival; the Wonderful Da Nang Festival; the Danang Golf Tourism Festival and BRG Open Golf Championship Danang; and the Viet Nam - Japan and Viet Nam -South Korea festivals.

Notably, the city has successfully hosted many national and international events. In particular, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival attracted more than 942,000 visitors over more than a month of organisation; the five-day Da Nang Enjoy Festival 2023 over 50,000 visitors; the Danang Golf Tourism Festival and Asian Development Golf Tournament - BRG Open Golf Championship Danang 2023 more than 38,000 spectators online; and the Da Nang Manulife International Marathon 2023 9,000 athletes from all over In the world.

Along with that, the fire-breathing and water-spraying shows at the eastern end of the Rong Bridge at 9:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; exciting festive programmes at the Sun World Ba Na Hills, the Mikazuki complex and the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park; the My An Night Beach; the An Thuong Tourist Street; the Son Tra Night Market; the Helio Complex; and the Han River inland waterway at night have truly created unique nighttime entertainment products, thereby helping increase the experience for visitors.

In addition, there are a number of new products, including the CT15 - Hon Sup - Bai Nam - Bai Da inland waterway tourism route; the Non Nuoc Stone Carving Memory Museum; paragliding activities; pilot models of exploiting tourism services in combination with agricultural, forestry and aquaculture development; 'Ma Nhai' (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains; check-in points at tourist beaches and Son Tra Peninsula; and an art light space to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Japan.

According to the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center, in 2023 alone, the city has actively been involved in carrying out communication and tourism promotion work, deploying the support programme to attract MICE tourists to Da Nang, connecting tourism businesses and promoting direct international flights.

During the year, the regular international air routes from Narita (Japan) and Macau (China) to Da Nang have been re-opened. Meanwhile, three new regular international air routes to Da Nang from Manila (the Philippines), Vientiane (Laos) and Cheongju (South Korea) have been launched.

Besides, the local tourism sector has implemented the tourism stimulus programme entitled "Enjoy Da Nang 2023” , as well as carry out communication through celebrities such as music stars, YouTubers, bloggers and artists in the entertainment field.

Moreover, the Da Nang government and Vietnam Airlines, on Friday afternoon, have entered into a comprehensive cooperation agreement for the 2023-2027 period.

Under the deal, during the 5-year period, the two sides will promote tourism promotion, commercial investment, aviation and destinations, especially promoting the post-pandemic restoration of the aviation sector in particular and the tourism industry in general.

Data shows that the service and tourism sector is being considered a bright spot, making an important contribution to the city's socio-economic growth.

In 2023 alone, the number of guests served by accommodation establishments is expected to have reached more than 7.6 million, doubling the figure recorded last year. Of them, 2.1 million have been international visitors, 4.3 times higher than that of 2022; whilst the number of domestic visitors has stood at more than 5.5 million, 1.7 times higher than that of 2022.

Accommodation and travel service revenue is expected to have surpassed VND14,700 billion, 2.2 times higher compared to the previous year.

The city's transportation activities are still growing quite well. Photo: THANH LAN

Expectations from trade and transportation services

According to statistics released by the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, the city's retail market continues to maintain good growth with stable prices.

Many trade and tourism festivals, fairs and events have been organised in the locality, contributing to luring more tourists to the city, especially during the summer.

The total retail sales of consumer goods and services continue to maintain growth momentum. The retail sales of goods in 2023 is estimated to have hit VND70,233 billion, an increase of 8.7% against 2022.

The city has successfully organised three general trade fairs and three programmes to promote Da Nang’s OCOP and featured products 2023 at the APEC Sculpture Park in Hai Chau District, the East Sea Park in Son Tra District and the An Thuong Tourist Street.

Additionally, the Vietnamese goods fair has been held in Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, and a conference on connecting trade and promoting exports in Da Nang.

Six delegations of businesses have been sent to attend domestic trade fairs and conferences in Quang Binh, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Khanh Hoa.

According to Director of the municipal Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung, the volume of transport for the whole year 2023 is estimated to have increased.

Revenue from transport, warehousing and transport support services is likely to have reached VND31,133 billion, a rise of 18% compared to 2022.

The volume of goods traffic is estimated to have hit 4,636 million T.km, up 10%, whilst the volume of passenger traffic is predicted to have been 858 million T.km, up 12%.

The city has provided public bicycle rental services on a trial basis with the aim to connect with buses and other transportation services to serve residents and tourists.

Five more subsidised bus routes in phase 2 and non-subsidised bus routes have been put into operation, contributing to basically completing the bus transportation network.

The volume of passenger in 2023 is estimated to have been 1,265,000, an increase of 35% against 2022. Inland waterway passenger transport activities have prospered.

The city has coordinated with Quang Nam Province to propose the Ministry of Transport to open a water transport route from Da Nang to Cham Island.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG