During the Tet Festival, APEC Sculpture Garden which officially opened to the public in mid-January 2022, daily welcomed hundreds of local people and tourists, especially young people, who came to admire sculptures and take photos. The venue has become one of the most-visited places in Da Nang during Tet.

APEC Sculpture Garden located in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District became new attraction for locals and tourists during Tet Festival. Photo: THIEN NGUYEN.

Between the 1^st and the 3^rd days of Lunar New Year 2022 (Tet) was the most crowded days in the APEC Sculpture Garden. Family members including grandparents and grandkids visited APEC Sculpture Garden to have fun and take photos of beautiful moments with their beloved ones.

In particular, many young people who were school pupils along with college and university students were eager to stay in this venue for a few hours to take selfies.

Mr. Huynh Van Dung, a resident from An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District said that APEC Sculpture Garden which is a new and unique architectural symbol of Da Nang was crowded with locals and tourists during Tet. He hoped that this inviting place would attract even more visitors in the coming time.

Apart from taking photos, many locals and tourists, mainly young people, also shoot their own videos about this beautiful place with their smartphones.

Nguyen Khanh Duy, a student of Da Nang-based Duy Tan University, said that many videos featuring beautiful scenes in APEC Sculpture Garden were posted on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook after this venue opened to the public in mid-January 2022. These posts featuring the new attraction in Da Nang have received high number of interactions and comments on social media platforms.

Many social media users praised APEC Sculpture Garden for its beauty, and expressed the wish to visit Da Nang to see it after watching the posts featuring this beautiful place.

Khanh Duy said that the image of Da Nang has been spread on social media, helping the city lure domestic and foreign tourists back after the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control in the city. In addition, the development of new architectural works in the city will help improve the cultural and spiritual life of local people.

The 8,668m² expanded APEC Park is bounded by extended Bach Dang Street to the east, 2 September Street to the west, Binh Minh 4 Street to the south, and the existing APEC Park to the north. The total cost of construction of this project is VND 759 billion. The inauguration of the expanded APEC Park aimed to mark the 25^th anniversary of Da Nang’s recognition as centrally-governed city (January 1).

Located in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, the new development comprises a public park, a stroll garden associated with an existing sculpture garden, a main stage, a water fountain, a stage for organising cultural events, a playground for children, green areas, a parking space, and underground public toilets.

The highlight of the expanded APEC Park is the kite-shaped dome inspired from the idea of ‘High Flying Kite’, and nearly 200 tons of steel were used to create this item by the Ha Giang- Phuoc Tuong Mechanical Joint Stock Company.

The idea of ‘High Flying Kite’ reflects the changing face of Da Nang, and affirms Da Nang’s role as dynamic city in Central Viet Nam, as well as presents key role of Da Nang in driving the growth of the region.

‘High Flying Kite’ idea presents the role Da Nang plays as a driver of the regional economy. The kite is not only a reminder of childhood but also shows Da Nang’s dreams and ambitions of its high flying future.

Hai Chau District authorities have made great efforts to ensure the security and social order in this new attraction in an attempt to help locals and tourists enjoy this place during Tet while ensuring effective control of the spread of COVID-19.

Reporting by THIEN NGUYEN – translating by H.L