According to a spokesperson for the municipal Department of Tourism, Da Nang is likely to have welcomed an estimated 158,300 visitors during the 3-day break holiday for this year’s National Day (2 September), up by 10.4% compared with the same period last year.  Of this figure, international tourist arrivals are expected to have surged by 12.1% to an estimate of 48,700, whilst domestic visitors are predicted to have risen by 9.5% to an estimated 109,500.

Visitors at the Cau Vang (Golden Bridge) on the top of the Ba Na Hills

Representatives from some local travel agencies revealed that the majority of domestic visitors to the city over the holiday were from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and such neighbouring localities as Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, whilst most of the foreigners came from the city’s traditional tourism markets of South Korea, China and Japan.

Taking advantage of the upcoming holiday break, many local travel agencies, accommodation establishments and the tourist sites are offering many tourism services and activities to satisfy the growing demand for entertainment and relaxation during the period.

Since it opened to the public in early June, the Cau Vang (Golden Bridge) on the top of the Ba Na Hills has been very inviting to visitors from both home and abroad thanks to its special architecture. The bridge is recommended as one of must-visit places in Da Nang on travel Facebook pages and websites which specialise in introducing popular tourist attractions in Viet Nam, and in Asia as a whole.

During the holiday, the Beer Festival B'estival 2018 is taking place at the Du Dome square and the Beer Plaza at the Ba Na Hills Resort. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to enjoy free German draught beer with famous brand names. Also, a carnival festival is expected to leave deep impression on visitors to the Ba Na Hills Resort. Admission fee is 600,000 VND per person, including 2-way cable car ticket and entertainment activity fee.

An artist's impression of the soon-to-be-opened Son Tra night market project associated with pedestrian space (Photo courtesy of the Son Tra District People’s Committee)

Notably, the Son Tra Night Market associated with a pedestrian space along sections of Mai Hac De and Ly Nam De streets in An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District, will be officially opened on 2 September.

There will be a total of around 150 stalls, 56 of which sell fashionable clothes, bags and footwear, 28 offer food and drinks, and the rest feature specialities, dried seafood, souvenirs, books, pictures and other commodities. In addition, there will be nightly musical performances. This venue which will daily operate from 6.00pm until midnight is expected to be a fascinating nighttime entertainment area for visitors.

On 31 August and 1 September, a Food Festival is taking place at a park near the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge in Son Tra District. On sale at the event are a wide range of delicious drinks and local specialties including ‘banh trang cuon thit heo’ (belly pork and vegetables wrapped in soft rice paper), ‘banh xeo’ (steamed rice flour pancakes), ‘nem lui’ (grilled meat roll), Quang noodles, ‘bun cha ca’ (fish cake noodles) and seafood. All of the dishes are cooked by professional chefs from famous restaurants across the city.

As part of the festival, a cooking contest entitled ‘Da Nang’s Delicious Dishes’ will be organised.

During the same period, the final round and awards ceremony of a contest for musical bands and dance groups will be held at the same venue at 7.30pm daily.

A news and artistic photo exhibition is taking place at the western end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge, opposite the Museum of Cham Sculpture from now until 2 September.

During the holiday break, locals and visitors will be treated to various interesting arts performances by artistes from the Trung Vuong Theatre at a vacant land area in front of the Lien Chieu District Administration Centre at 7.00pm on 1 September, and at a park near the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge in the evening of 2 September.

On 2 September, an ‘Eventful Han River’ programme will take place on the Han River along the section between the Rong and Han River bridges, and at a main stage on Bach Dang, opposite the Han Market, from 2.30pm - 5.30pm. It will feature such exciting activities as a DJ performance, a parade and competition of water-motors, and a jet-skiing performance.

Moreover, many famous films about historical figures, heroes and events are being screened at the Le Do Cinema, 46 Tran Phu, from now until 5 September at every 2.00pm, 4.00pm, 6.00pm and 8.00pm daily.

In addition, such popular tourist attractions as the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park, the Asia Park, the Hoa Phu Thanh entertainment area, and the Lai Thieu, Suoi Hoa (Spring Flower), Suoi Luong and Ngam Doi eco-tourism sites have become popular with visitors from both home and abroad.

Moreover, sightseeing boat tours on the Han River are available for domestic and foreign visitors. Currently, the An Pha Son Trading and Service Company is offering 90-minute-long tours on its Phu Quy trip boat at the price of 150,000 VND per adult and 100,000 VND per child.

Also, there will be tours discovering the beauty of Bai Cat Vang (Yellow Sand Beach) and Bai Dang, and exploring the colourful coral reefs off the Son Tra Peninsula.

Mr Cao Tri Dung, the Chairman of Da Nang Travel Association, remarked this year Da Nang continues emerging as one of the country’s most popular destinations for visitors from both home and abroad thanks to its reputation, attractive tourism products and improved quality of services. He affirmed that the city’s new tourism products have helped to lure more foreign visitors, especially those from the Northeast Asia region.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Tran Chi Cuong noted that his agency has asked local tourism service and accommodation establishment providers to display the prices of their services, and ensure safety and environmental sanitation.

In a similar vein, these providers will keep their service prices unchanged and offer many promotion programmes for their clients during the holiday break.