The ‘Da Nang Smile’ campaign, which was officially launched by the municipal Department of Tourism in September 2017, is now progressing well in a bid to make Da Nang a civilised, friendly, and hospitable city in the eyes of visitors from both home and abroad. Civilised behaviors, politeness, friendliness, and other appropriate manners have become good habits of those in the hospitality and tourism sector, and widely spread into the community.

An employee from the city’s Tourist Support Centre enthusiastically giving instructions to foreign visitors

Initially, the campaign was part of a series of activities in preparation for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) 2017 which took place in the city from 6-11 November last year.

Currently, the campaign is targeting government employees who are involved in tourism, customs, police, aviation sectors, plus staff at restaurants and hotels, drivers, tour guides, and even local residents.

Appeals have been made for all local citizens to show their smiley faces, and their friendly and hospitable attitude and behaviour, towards visitors arriving in the city. Their small action, in deed, helps the city affirm its ‘Da Nang FantastiCity’ brand name.

During her recent Da Nang trip, an young independent tourist from the UK, 20-year-old Christine Morley, came to the city’s Tourist Support Centre at 108 Bach Dang to ask for consultancies on popular tourist attractions, hotel room rates, festivals and events, motorbike rental shops, and other related issues in the city.

“I am very satisfied with the enthusiasm and friendly attitude of the support centre’s staff members. All of my questions were answered in a very detailed way”, cheerfully said Ms Christine Morley.

According to Mr Le Ngoc Nhat, the Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, in active response to the city-released code of conduct applicable to those in the hospitality and tourism sector, his agency’s staff members are always ready to say “hello”, “sorry”, “please”, “thank you”, and other polite phrases to visitors. Also, the staff members always show their friendliness, high respect, gentle attitude, deep understanding and helpfulness when in contact with tourists.

A tourist-narrator at the Marble Mountains Tourist Area (left) showing his friendly and hospitable attitude towards visitors

Ms Vo Thi Phuong, the Head of the Son Tra District Culture and Information Office, said the district authorities have taken the initiative to encourage each of the district’s inhabitants to be an enthusiastic and friendly tourism ambassador in a bid to advertise the city’s beautiful image to domestic and international friends.

Special attention has been paid to widely publicising the 'Da Nang Smile' campaign amongst the general public through the mass media and visual advertising.

To date, leaflets on the code of conduct applicable to those involved in the tourism industry have been distributed to a total of 500 restaurants, eateries and accommodation establishments across the district.

Ms Huynh Thi Huong Lan, the Deputy Director of the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre, affirmed that, in the coming time, the tourism sector will make greater efforts to promote the deployment of the ‘Da Nang Smile’ campaign in order to create an even bigger impact on the community. Also, exchanges of experience amongst local tourism service providers will be promoted so as to discuss effective ways to enhance their professional skills and ensure better behaviours towards visitors arriving in the city.