Da Nang’s residents always take pride in the beautiful and romantic Han River, with its riverside areas often featuring local cultural events and entertainment activities. 

In 2000, all the stilt houses on the eastern bank of the river were removed and the Han River Swing Bridge was officially opened to traffic. At that time, Bach Dang street was also expanded in order to create more airy spaces. Since then, the landscapes of both banks of the river have been improved, and the river has become a local landmark partly due to the numerous beautiful bridges spanning it, including Thuan Phuoc, Tran Thi Ly and Rong (Dragon).

Locals and visitors gathering on the riverside promenade in the afternoon

The Bach Dang Street riverside promenade, along the west bank of the river, has become an attractive entertainment venue for both local residents and visitors.

In the early morning, locals gather to do physical exercise or take strolls to enjoy the fresh air along the promenade.  At noon, the venue becomes the place for Chinese chess lovers and anyone who wants to relax after hours of hard work in the morning.  Then, when evening falls, it is common to see many middle-aged people dancing and teenagers indulging in hip-hop dance moves, which creates a vibrant atmosphere.  Children are taken by their parents to the promenade to play with their peers, whilst other locals enjoy walking their pets along the riverside.  There are also periodic street music performances on the riverside walkway, and sightseeing riverboat tours depart from here.

According to the prestigious local cultural researcher Nguyen Dinh An, it is the local residents themselves who have developed this open and cultural space on the riverside promenade through their daily activities as mentioned above, and they are now enjoying great benefits from the venue.

The former site of the Han River Port has become the ideal place for setting off the fireworks during the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, an event which advertises our beautiful city to a wide audience.

Started in 2013, the Bach Dang Flower Street event held over Tet has attracted crowds of visitors who come to enjoy the beautiful spring flowers and take memorable photos with their family members and friends. At the 2015 Tet festival, the eastern bank of the river featured an S-shaped floral decoration of a map of Viet Nam, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, which drew a great deal of attention from the public.

From the Thuan Phuoc bridge in the north to the Tuyen Son bridge in the south, both banks of the river have been planned to include recreational and entertainment areas, but perhaps more so on the western side.  Here you will find the new Helio Centre entertainment complex and the soon to be opened Asia Park, plus Bach Dang street, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the upgraded General Science Library which will be reopening soon.

With their advantages and assets mentioned above, the riverside areas of Da Nang have satisfied the local demand for places for relaxation and recreation and help to encourage visitors to extend their stay periods here, return again later, and recommend Da Nang to others.