The enhancements of landscape at the eastern bank of Da Nang’s Han River promise to bring many beneficial values to people, and stimulate the development of tourism and service activities, thereby making it become an attractive and unique destination for people of Son Tra District in particular and those of Da Nang in general.

A corner of the eastern bank of the Han River. Photo: TRONG HUY

At a meeting between voters and delegates of the municipal People's Council before People's Council sessions, voters in An Hai Tay Ward asked the People's Committee to soon have a plan to install a railing system and pave vertical sidewalk tiles along the eastern bank of the Han River and Tran Hung Dao Street. This is intended to embellish landscape and limit dangers for people who do exercise and go for a stroll.

Meanwhile, voters in An Hai Dong Ward expressed their desire that the city authorities will consider re-planning the landscape at the eastern bank of the Han River, with a focus on limiting the construction of high-rise buildings, and relocating construction projects close to the river to the Man Quang Bay.

Voters in Nai Hien Dong Ward proposed that the city reconsider projects along the Han River, espcially along a section from the beginning of Tran Hung Dao Street to Le Van Duyet Street. These projects are said to block all visibility towards the Han River, whilst delayed ones affect the urban aesthetic.

In fact, the planning of the landscape along the Han River axis has always garnered interest from the city.

In particular, the city has launched a contest on planning and architecture design of the Han River banks with the intention of creating landscape and beautiful scenery for local residents, and visitors from both home and abroad. Accordingly, entries must express the spirit that the Han River is a valuable natural asset, so the approach to management and investment in urban development must be respected and preserved.

In late November 2023, the city’s Architectural Advisory Council held a meeting to listen to a report on landscape design along both banks of the river from the Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects.

Many experts who are members of the council expressed their viewpoints with enthusiastic, responsible and profound opinions.

According to Mr. To Van Hung, Chairman of the Da Nang Architects’ Association, a council member, landscape design or planning along the eastern bank of the Han River needed to be associated with historical elements of the eastern bank in particular and the development of the city in general in a bid to create unique characteristics of Da Nang.

Mr. Hung said that tourism activities associated with bridges, including the weekend shows of fire breathing and water squirting at the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge, were still somewhat unorganized and unscripted, and the area was always crowded and congested with traffic. He, therefore, undertook the necessity for the city to organise the scenario for the tourism story.

Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology Nguyen Anh Tuan, a council member, stressed the need to tell a story of the city along the eastern bank of the Han River.

According to Vice Chairman of the city’s Urban Planning and Development Association Bui Huy Tri, it was necessary to ensure space for locals to do businesses, thereby creating attractiveness and bustle for this area.

Mr. Ho Phuoc Phuong, a council member, said that cultural - historical elements, and stories needed to be integrated into typical spaces, such as the Nai Hien Dong area.

At the meeting, many opinions suggested that the landscape design or planning of the eastern bank of the Han River must not encroach on the river.

In his concluding speech, Mr. Le Quang Nam, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee cum Chairman of the local Architectural Advisory Council, asked the Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects and the consulting units to fully absorb, explain, and clarify adjustments and additions to the opinions of council members.

He also stressed the need to study this issue within the "River of Light" project to avoid conflicts, as well as research the appropriate location and have design solutions suitable to the landscape for the implementation of the pedestrian bridge.

Reporting by TRONG HUY - Translating by M.DUNG