Traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet), the largest and lengthiest public holiday in Viet Nam, is one of the cultural features of Vietnamese people with many activities oriented towards traditional values. The joyful and bustling atmosphere of Tet has become a magnet that attracts tourists, especially international visitors.

A welcoming ceremony for international visitors was held at the Da Nang International Airport. Photo: NHAT HA

Bustling Tet atmosphere

As soon as they arrived at the Da Nang International Airport, amidst the bustling sound of lion dance, a form of traditional dance in Vietnamese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a costume representing the animal, along with cheerful spring-sounding music, many international tourists could not help but be surprised and curious. When introduced as passengers on the first flight to Da Nang on New Year's Day, many people could not hide their surprise and felt happy with the joy of Vietnamese people.

Having experienced the bustling, cheerful atmosphere at the Da Nang International Airport, Ms. Sang Yoon Min, a South Korean national, expressed her joy and excitement when her family welcomed the Lunar New Year abroad and was welcomed warmly right at the airport.

“We realised a bustling, joyful atmosphere that makes everyone feel full of energy. This is the first time my family comes to Da Nang. During the 10-day trip, we will take time to visit highly popular tourist sites in Da Nang, especially to explore the traditional Vietnamese Tet to see what else is different from traditional Korean New Year.”, said Sang Yoon Min.

Similarly, Mr. Daniel Wagner of the U.S. nationality expressed: “While on the cruise ship, when it was announced that the ship was about to dock, we heard exciting sounds from the shore. Many passengers looked out curiously to see what was going on. Many of us cried out in excitement because we saw how bustling the atmosphere was. I've been told a lot about Da Nang by friends who traveled to this central Vietnamese city and I want to experience the trip here myself. I had also heard about the traditional Vietnamese New Year, the custom of giving lucky money, and typical cuisine, but I was surprised to be warmly welcomed and given gifts right from the moment I arrived in Da Nang. I will definitely take the time to learn more about the interesting things of this city”.

According to Mrs. Mai Thi Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre under the Da Nang Department of Tourism, one of the indispensable features of the city's tourism industry on the first day of the Lunar New Year is a cozy ceremony to welcome the first tourist who set foot in Da Nang upon their dismemberment from aircraft or cruise ships.

This is an annual activity, organised by the Da Nang Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Central Airport Authority, the Da Nang International Airport, the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company, and the Da Nang Port Joint Stock Company, in a joint effort to welcome visitors on the first days of the lunar new year.

In addition to the welcome sign decorated at the Da Nang International Airport or at the Da Nang Port, these special tourists are welcomed with lion dancing shows, traditional art performances, and they are given flowers, conical hats, and gifts of local specialties, gift vouchers for trips to local tourist attractions tourists.

Ensuring high satisfaction for tourists

Many international tourists said that the first feeling when coming to Da Nang is that of warmth and friendliness. Being welcomed right at the international airport is a completely different experience that cannot be found anywhere else. From the initial surprise, after many visitors feel the warmth and closeness, feel welcomed like a child returning home, and excitedly join in the traditional Tet joy of the local people.

Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung said that Lunar New Year is one of the unique cultural features of Vietnamese people. The atmosphere of welcoming Tet and joyful Tet days has brought uniqueness, attracting the attention of many international tourists. Tet welcoming activities in recent years have been taken by tourism workers in a more diverse and open way.

The city strives to ensure a bustling, jubilant atmosphere from the moment tourists arrive at the airport and the port, whilst many tourist attractions across the city also organise activities imbued with cultural features and traditions for tourists to experience and immerse themselves in the cultural flow of Vietnamese people. Many international visitors and overseas Vietnamese people have proactively chosen to travel during Tet to explore the cultural life of Vietnamese people during this special occasion.

Also aiming for tourist satisfaction, in recent years, the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company has coordinated with the tourism industry and related agencies to bring creative experiences, diversity for tourists.

Mr. Do Trong Hau, Deputy General Director of the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company, said that the company's activities to welcome guests during the Lunar New Year are carefully coordinated and carried out with the desire to bring maximum satisfaction for visitors.

“We hope that through small positive changes, we will leave a deep impression in the hearts of tourists about a friendly, hospitable and enthusiastic Da Nang.”, Mr. Do Trong Hau expressed.

According to Ms. Mai Thi Thanh Hai, welcoming tourists upon their disembarkation from planes and cruise ships during the Lunar New Year is to create joy and excitement for tourists themselves, in order to promote more international and domestic visitor arrivals in Da Nang every year.

Through interesting activities, the city’s tourism industry wants to introduce tourists, especially international ones, to Da Nang dwellers’ hospitality as well as the typical cultural features of Vietnamese people. Along with gifts that are specialities, tourists are provided with publications about a list of entertainment activities and experiences in the city during Tet. Although such deeds are simple, they somehow create a deep impression on visitors during the trip.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by ANH THU