Last year, many positive results were achieved by Da Nang’s culture and sports sector.

An impressive musical performance at the opening ceremony of ABG5

In particular, various festive and cultural activities were held along the banks of the Han River, which helped the city to be named as ‘Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination’.  Then, the city successfully hosted the 5^th Asian Beach Games (ABG5) which has created a premise for the city to organise even larger international events in the future.  In addition, a wide range of cultural, sporting and arts activities took place across the city to satisfy the demands of local residents and visitors.

Municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung recently remarked, “From now until the end of this year, the focus should be on expanding the scale of large events held across the city to effectively advertise the city both domestically and internationally.  Also, greater effort should be made to enhance the professional skills of those involved in culture and sports, and to appeal for more public investment into the local sports sector”.

According to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, by the end of this year the city’s culture and sports sector will have focused on ensuring the success of such large-scale events as the APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2017 (AELW), the International Fireworks Festival, and the 20^th Viet Nam Film Festival.  In addition, importance will be attached to passing on its recommendations to relevant local agencies about how to effectively preserve and promote the cultural values of the Dien Hai Citadel and the Hai Van Pass Gate.

Last Friday, Vice Chairman Dung paid a visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture to check the progress of the site’s refurbishment in preparation for the AELW in November.

According to a spokesperson for the Department of Culture and Sports, to date 80% of the refurbishment work has been completed.  In addition, many upgraded facilities have already been put into operation, including the ticket booth, souvenir stall, secondary gate, and ticket collecting venue, and the flower gardens. Meanwhile, the refurbishment of an exhibition house on the 2^nd floor has been 95% completed, whilst the installation of fire prevention and fighting equipment is nearly complete.

A representative from the project's construction contractor, the 319 Central Region company, asked the city leader to extend the deadline to complete the refurbishment work to June instead of 29 March.  The delay was requested because of the rainy weather late last year which has influenced the waterproofing work schedule at the site.

Vice Chairman Dung stressed the need for all relevant units to accelerate their work and complete the refurbishment of the museum before June because an international seminar about the museum is scheduled to be held in the city in June. 

In addition, the museum’s management board was asked to work closely with the Department of Culture and Sports to develop plans to effectively display the Cham antiques, and to enhance the professional skills of the museum guides.