Abundant natural resources and well-invested infrastructure are the necessary conditions for Da Nang’s tourism to increasingly develop, gradually asserting its position both in the domestic and international markets.

Tourists enjoying an art performance at the Sun World Ba Na Hills Tourist Area. Photo: THU HA

Spectacular change

More than 10 years ago, Da Nang was only a young city in terms of tourism development. The city was considered as a "transit point" to take/pick up visitors to world heritage sites in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces.

Over time, thanks to the special care and attention of authorities, the city has developed appropriate policies and orientations for sustainable tourism development. Thanks to that, local tourism has a solid foundation with systems of modern and synchronous infrastructure, and professional tourism service facilities, thereby drawing much attention from strategic investors such as Sun Group, Vin Group, Mikazuki, BRG Group, and Sovico Holdings.

Besides, the presence of the world's leading international hotel brands such as Intercontinental, Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriotte, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, and Hilton has contributed to changing the appearance of the city.

To date, the city has had 16 tourist spots, an increase of 9 compared to 2010; 1,285 accommodation establishments providing a total of more than 46,000 rooms, a rise of 1,104 establishments and more than 40,000 rooms compared to 2010; nearly 5,700 tour guides; and 525 travel firms.

Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung assessed that the city’s tourism has made great strides. The city is now home to many attractive landscapes such as the Marble Mountains special national-level relic site, Sun World Ba Na Hills Tourist Area, and Son Tra Peninsula, along with famous historical and cultural sites like the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Da Nang Museum.

Additionally, a wide range of exciting and meaningful traditional festivals are held every year such as the Hai Chau Village Communal House Festival, the Tuy Loan Village Communal House Festival, the 'Cau Ngu' (Fish Worshipping) Festival, and the Quan The Am (Avalokiteśvara) Festival.

Meanwhile, the Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, the Nam O Fish Sauce Making Village, and a rich and diverse culinary culture, have contributed to creating a very unique, richly identifiable Da Nang.

According to Mr. Dung, one of the highlights highly appreciated by domestic and international tourists is that Da Nang has been focusing on developing spacious, clean, beautiful and environmentally friendly infrastructure, as well as urban planning facing the river and sea, alternating with hilly areas, all bringing a modern but attractive appearance for the city.

Moreover, the city has offered the best possible facilitation for domestic and foreign investors to exploit and develop new and attractive products.

Da Nang houses many high-end resorts, modern and luxurious accommodation establishments, large capacity conference centres with modern equipment and professional staff to meet a variety of customers’ needs.

Notably, hosting major international festivals and events such as the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival; Clipper Race 2016; an international tourism fair on beach resorts and M.I.C.E in 2016; Asian Beach Games in 2016; APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2017; the Routes Asia 2022; the Danang Golf Tourism Festival 2022; the Asian Development Golf Tournament 2022 - BRG Open Golf Championship Danang in 2022 and 2023; and the Viet Nam International Travel Mart 2022 has contributed to bringing Da Nang closer a to international friends.

Affirming Da Nang’s brand

It can be seen that the great efforts made by tourism industry in recent years have been paid off as the city has won a series of awards honoured by international organisations and magazines. Specially, the city was honoured as 'Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination' at gala ceremonies of the World Travel Awards in 2016 and 2022. This not only continues to affirm the city’s reputation but also puts it into the list of modern, safe, friendly and hospitable destinations on the global tourism map.

Mr. Cao Tri Dung said that currently, tourist trends have changed a lot, so people working in the hospitality sector need to change and adapt accordingly. Specifically, guests tend to choose green tourism with ecologically diverse destinations; and experiential travel to learn deeply about community culture. Also, travel combined with participating in major events about music, sports, entertainment; or tourism combined with organising personal events such as weddings and ceremonies; are increasingly becoming more popular.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that, under Da Nang's tourism development orientation with a vision to 2045, the city will become Asia's leading tourist destination and one of the high-end, creative, green, smart resort, marine and ecology tourism centers.

The central coastal city is prioritising rolling out many synchronous solutions on innovation and creativity in communication activities, tourism promotion, and infrastructure quality improvement, as well as applying preferential policies on procedures and investment resources for new, potential tourism products such as MICE, golf and wedding tourism.

In particular, importance is being attached to increasingly diversifying and upgrading events and festivals throughout the year to serve the community, residents and tourists.

The local tourism industry will continue to develop and perfect key product groups, including high-end marine tourism; cultural and historical product; MICE tourism; and urban tourism and eco-tourism with forests, mountains, rivers and lakes in the west of the city.

Diversifying tourism products is a way to catch tourist trends, whilst increasing rich experiences at destinations is the basic foundation to attract tourists from many different markets, Director Hanh emphasised.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG