Located in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, the An Thuong Tourist Streets quarter has long been chosen for staying by many international tourists when traveling to and working in Da Nang.

Foreign tourists are seen walking in the An Thuong Tourist Streets quarter

In order to develop economic activities as well as lure more foreign visitors, the city has already invested in the first phase of the An Thuong Tourist Area project. The second phase of the project is expected to be carried out in the near future. However, according to the assessment of tourists and tourism experts, the second phase of the project should be focus on the actual needs of tourists.

The An Thuong Tourist Area project was approved by the municipal People's Committee in 2018 with an implementation roadmap from 2019 - 2025. It features three phases with a focus on upgrading service and urban infrastructure to serve tourism activities.

The first stage of the project connecting night-time entertainment activities along the My An Beach in My An Ward was completed and opened to the public in April 2022. Accordingly, a wide array of new and captivating services and tourism products are bringing excitement to the nightlife of the area.

As planned, the second stage of the An Thuong Tourist Area project will be deployed on a section from Le Quang Dao Street to Mai Thuc Lan Street and it is scheduled to be completed in late 2024 and early 2025. The third phase of the project will stretch from Le Quang Dao to Nguyen Van Thoai streets.

In addition to upgrading synchronous and modern infrastructure, there will be a central square to organise events, installation art, and utilities to serve people and tourists.

In fact, the An Thuong Tourist Streets is currently chosen by many foreigners, especially young people, as a place to stay when travelling to or working in Da Nang.

Aside from essential needs, tourists want to experience tourism products associated with the locality.

In July 2023, authorities in Ngu Hanh Son District inaugurated the An Thuong pedestrian street and night market with the desire to satisfy the entertainment needs of both residents and tourists.

But in reality, the number of stalls here is quite modest, which has not created an attraction for tourists.

Having stayed at an apartment on An Thuong 3 Street, Mr. Felix Naukin from South Africa shared that the An Thuong Tourist Streets quarter was quite bustling in the evening because many foreigners here can meet and chat like a miniature community.

He, however, stressed the need to have amenities such as more shopping stores, and sports and entertainment venues, to facilitate guests who want to stay here for a long time

Mr. Dinh Van Loc, Director of the Viet Da Tourism Company, said that although the city has added more nighttime activities such as walking street and night market, the business and service models here are still quite small and therefore not attractive to tourists, especially foreigners.

He also gave an example of some countries in the region with models of night markets and walking streets organised on a large scale with shopping spots, dining venues, and entertainment and sports places to increase tourists’ experience.

He, therefore, underlined a must-do for the city to increase entertainment activities, as well as form complexes including bars, pubs, restaurants, shopping areas, and entertainment and sports venues.

It is possible to mobilise people living here to participate in a series of business activities, and encourage investors to attract business households. The more bustling service activities become, the more visitors will arrive in, he added.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Le Thien Tu, Director of the V.E.I Travel & Event Co., Ltd., specialising in organising tours for foreign visitors, believed that international visitors were often interested in experiencing local culture and tourism, and interacting with local people. Potential customers can be divided into groups such as a group of young visitors who often like vibrant spaces such as bars, pubs, sports complexes (gyms, swimming pools, etc.), and a group of older visitors who often like to experience culture, cuisine, and quiet spaces.

He, therefore, highlighted the necessity for the city to invite experts in the fields of culture, entertainment, health, and cuisine to advise on models and ways to form a tourist area that attracts international tourists.

“The peak season for international visitors in Da Nang is usually in the last months of the year, so tourism professionals and strategists need to research the tastes and needs of visitors, and then create suitable products and services to satisfy their tastes and preferences” Mr. Tu shared.

In order for the next phases of the An Thuong Tourist Area project to be effectively implemented, relevant units should survey and evaluate the quality and efficiency of business activities in the area, and grasp the actual needs of people and visitors to have solutions suitable to the actual situation, he noted.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG, P.TRA