After more than 2 years of makeover, the Hai Van Gate has given a new coat, attracting many visitors at both home and abroad. However, the authorities of Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue need to take many solutions to exploit tourism effectively at the relic.

Tourists visited the Hai Van Gate on December 5, 2024. Photo: NGOC HA

An attractive destination

In late 2021, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre in Thua Thien-Hue Province and the Department of Culture and Sports of Da Nang jointly began a project on the restoration and preservation of the Hai Van Gate. The project cost more than VND 42 billion funded by the budgets of Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Province.

The Hai Van Gate reopened to tourists from August 1, and it attracts hundreds of visitors every day.

After being restored, the relic has guide and information boards in both Vietnamese and English to serve visitors who want to learn about the history of the tourist site.

Notably, visitors can experience the tourist destination with a 3D digital map located right at the entrance gate. By using a smartphone connected to the check-in board with an NFC chip (short-range wireless technology) at the attraction, they can access 9 important locations of Hai Van Gate and explore according to their preferences.

Mr. Beloeil-Ozoul from French said “The Hai Van Gate is a place where you can see both Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang. When the tour guide explained the history of this place, I found it even more interesting. If this place charges a reasonable entrance fee, I think visitors will be willing to support it because it will contribute to preserving the relic”.

Meanwhile, Nabi, a student from Thailand, shared that checking in at 'Thien ha de nhat hung quan' (The most marvellous wonder) was a wonderful thing for her and her friends during their trip to Viet Nam. After choosing Da Nang as a stopover in Central Viet Nam, she learned about this relic.

Nabi excitedly said “We bought ‘Ao Dai’ and Vietnamese flags to have the most memorable pictures. This is the first time we have come here, it is so impressive and surprising”.

Foreign tourists learn about Hai Van Gate at the photo gallery. Photo: NGOC HA

How to exploit effectively?

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, emphasised that Hai Van Gate has historical, cultural and natural characteristics. He, however, stressed the need for both Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Province to promote and include the tourist site in local tourism promotion programmes. He also underlined the importance to invest accompanying services at the destination such as exhibition house, additional check-in points and souvenir kiosks in harmony with the architecture of the relic in order to lure more visitors.

Deputy General Director of the Vitraco Da Nang Company Le Tan Thanh Tung said that currently there are many destinations for tourists to choose from, including free-of-charge places. Therefore, charging fees at a destination needs to be calculated reasonably, so the authorities should consider whether it brings any benefits to tourists or not?

Mr. Tung undertook the necessity to organise professional reception, build a clean and beautiful toilet system, and tackle the harassment of tourists in a bid to increase tourists’ experience at the destination.

According to the Department of Culture and Sports of Da Nang, during the period when tickets are not sold, the relic is under the direct management of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre and the People's Committee of Da Nang’s Lien Chieu District.

Meanwhile, the Departments of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang perform the function of state management of the Hai Van Gate according to regulations.

During the ticket sales period (expected in 2025), the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre and the People's Committee of Lien Chieu District will implement the principle of rotating management for 3 years (the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre will manage and exploit the relic for the first 3 years, and the People's Committee of Lien Chieu District will manage and exploit the relic for the next 3 years).

To exploit effectively this tourist site, the two localities should have plans to jointly organise activities to promote the relic; collect and archive documents on related tangible cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage to serve the preservation, restoration, and embellishment of the relic; and set up QR codes on each item to meet the needs of people and tourists to learn about the works.

Mr. Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, Director of the Da Nang Museum, acknowledged that the coordination of management and exploitation of Hai Van Gate national-level relic is aimed at preserving and promoting the historical - cultural and natural values ​​associated with the relic. Developing Hai Van Gate tourism has truly made a positive contribution to the socio-economic development of Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang. This relic is an indispensable stop on the "Central Heritage Road", contributing to improving the lives of local people.

Reporting by NGOC HA - Translating by M.DUNG