New tourism disciplines attract many people to experience, especially adventurous sports such as SUP (Standup paddleboarding) and paragliding which turn popular with young people.

SUP is not only a recreational sport but also it can be used to carry out rescue operations. Photo: K.H.

SUP is the closest you can get without actually getting wet. You cruise along, admire the view. You can dip in, dip out – hell, you can take a rod if you want, or do some downward dog on your board. For starters, they can learn almost instantly. They just hop on the board and when their balance is right, if they feel comfortable, they stand up.

Humans have been supping a long time - records go back to as early as 3,000BC, but the modern iteration was born in Hawaii in the 1940s, when surfer John Ah Choy could no longer get up and down on his board.

Being excited with SUP

The sport in which many people are interested is SUP. Currently, this is probably one of the most attractive water sports in Da Nang. Participants use a paddle and a large, stable board (like a surfboard with fins) and are standing up whilst using the paddle to propel along. SUP rowing is chosen by many people because it brings a sense of freedom and freedom on the water.

Coming to SUP when it was introduced by a friend 4 years ago, Le Hoang Chau, 32, the Director of Galaxy Dance Centre joined a group of men holding passion for SUP. According to Chau, the ideal time to practice SUP is every morning, from 4:30 a.m to nearly 7:00 a.m. At that time, dawn has just risen and the landscape begins to change colours, making the sky brilliant, feeling extremely excited and eager.

In addition to SUP rowing, the group also likes diving to explore the beauty of the coral. This is really a great experience in the waters off Da Nang. To master a SUP, the player must learn how to balance, use the paddle, control the direction of the SUP and then the rowing position, after mastering the pace and the paddle will proceed to the next steps. More difficult skills include kneeling rowing and standing rowing.

“This sport helps to improve health and endurance very well. Four years of pursuit, we have moved to many different terrains to experience, especially through rapids and waterfalls, it gives the feeling of conquering ourselves. Paddling through rapids and waterfalls faces different difficulty levels so players need experience and skills to conquer”, said Chau.

As for Do Duy, a SUP player from Thanh Khe District has been playing this sport for more than one year. Because of his passion, every morning, from 4:00a.m, Duy and his friends gather at Tho Quang Beach to practice SUP together.

Duy said the feeling of “walking on the cool, blue sea water, rushing towards the vast horizon at the same time as the rays of the sun shine gradually rising is an extremely adventurous feeling that is is hard to be experienced in other water sports.

According to SUP connoisseurs, there are now many different forms of SUP such as SUP rowing for sightseeing, snorkeling, swimming, surfing or organising races or performances. In addition, paddles can also be used to serve aid reliefs for victims in disaster areas.

Flying in the sky

Another subject that has a strong attraction for those who love to experience travel is paragliding. Three years have passed by, but every time recalling the experience of "flying in the sky" from the top of Son Tra Mountain, Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, 40, a small trader in the Con Market still has the feeling of flying with a unique experience.

It is the overwhelming and relaxing feeling of being released like a bird flying in the sky, being free to fly in the air to feel each gentle breeze. All troubles seem to be dispelled, leaving only relief in the soul.

According to Ms. Hanh, flying high and looking far away can see the whole panorama of mountains, clouds, sky and even  pristine beaches, endless stretches of white sand, jade-like blue seawater, the whole city, all merging together like a breathtaking picture.  When operating the parachute closer, hundreds of fishermen's boats anchorite at the Tho Quang fishing wharf look like small dots painted on a jade green fabric.

Sharing paragliding practice, Mr. Luu Hong Lam, the Vice President of Da Nang Paragliding Club said: "The training time for this subject depends on the fitness and aptitude of the learners. It usually takes only 5 days for some players to can ‘fly’, but up to 2 months for others. Previously, the cost of paragliding training was about VND12 million /person/one training session. However, now, in order for this subject to approach more people, the Da Nang Paragliding Club is ready to train and support parachute equipment for free. If players decide to stick with this subject for a long time, it will cost about VND 50 million - VND100 million for a set of parachutes and accompanying protective equipment".

After nearly 2 months of training, Hanh was allowed to ‘fly’ by the coach. “After only a few steps of running, my feet were lifted off the ground, my whole body was suspended in the air, and then continued to fly out to sea, towards the city centre. Never before have I seen such a breathtakingly beautiful landscape in Da Nang.”, emotionally said My Hanh, recalling her first memory with paragliding.

With an effort to renew tourism activities, especially experience tourism, at present, new forms of tourism have become attractive products, gradually turning professional.

On the occasion of this summer, the Enjoy "Wow Da Nang" (Enjoy summer festival 2023) from July 28 to August 1 is expected to bring interesting moments to both locals and tourists in a summer vibes. This festival features an array of activities to be held at the Bien Dong (East Sea) Park, beaches stretching along the routes of Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa and Nguyen Tat Thanh, and Bach Dang and Tran Hung Dao streets on the western and eastern banks of the Han River, respectively,

Notable among the experience-oriented activities at the forthcoming event are Viet Nam International Food Festival, Check-in space for experience and creativity on the sand, Coastal Village Festival, Da Nang International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2023, International Open Paragliding Tournament, Zumba flashmob ‘Wow Da Nang’, tour programme ‘Enjoy Da Nang Summer’.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by A.THU