Over recent years, the Da Nang authorities have poured more money into cultural facilities across the city in a bid to satisfy the growing demand for spiritual culture of local residents and visitors.

Local pupils joining an attractive extracurricular activity at the Museum of Cham Sculpture

In 2019 alone, a wide range of lively and attractive cultural events were organised at the city-based museums.

In particular, a monthly average of two exhibitions took place at the Fine Arts Museum, whilst the Museum of Da Nang collected 74 artifacts and documentary photos.

The Museum of Cham Sculpture opened a new display of 47 artifacts at its open storage, and a special gallery on findings from excavations conducted at the Cham relic site in Phong Le Village, Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District from 2011 to 2018.

Besides, a multi-lingual audio guide app was put into use at the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Accordingly, visitors can access audio recordings in foreign languages to gain an insight into the history, origin, place names, and information about available artifacts on display here.

As a result, the Museum of Cham Sculpture welcomed a total of 310,000 visitors, including 283,000 foreigners, and the Museum of Da Nang received 330,000 people, including 290,000 international nationals, last year.

Meanwhile, 20,000 people visited the Fine Arts Museum, up 13% compared with the same period 2018. Of them, 4,200 were from foreigners.

Also in 2019, the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong (classical drama) Theatre started to introduce ‘The Soul of Viet Nam’ traditional arts show to both locals and tourists. The Le Do Cinema, 46 Tran Phu, officially reopened its door to the public in November after nearly a year of upgrade.

Accordingly, a combined total of 36.9 billion VND from the city budget went to restore such historical relic sites as the Dien Hai Citadel, and the Xuan Duong, Xuan Thieu, Nam Tho, Phuoc Thuan, Qua Giang and Thai Lai communal houses.

During this year, another 50 billion VND from the city budget will be spent on upgrading and restoring some downgrading cultural and historical relic sites, including village communal houses and temples throughout the city.

Included will be Nai Hien Dong, Phuoc Hung, Phuoc Truong and Cam Toai communal houses, the Ham Trung, Trung Lap, Van Thanh Xuan Thieu and ‘Cay Sung’ (Ficus racemosa) temples, the Dinh Family's worship house, the worship house dedicated to the ancestors of the Nai Hien Village in Hai Chau District’s Binh Hien Ward, the worship house of Thanh Khe District’s fisheries sector, and the Qua Giang Family worship house.

Importance will be attached to implementing the 2^nd stage of the Dien Hai Citadel restoration project, and developing plans to preserve and restore the Hai Van Gate.

Also, special attention will be paid to turning the existing headquarters of the municipal People's Council at 42 Bach Dang into the Museum of Da Nang, as well as developing a project on preserving and promoting the cultural values of traditional houses in the city for the 2021-2025 period.

By NGOC HA - Translated by MAI DUNG