Taking place until August 1, the Enjoy Da Nang Festival 2023, with a variety of fascinating activities, has been attracting a large number of locals, and domestic and international tourists. The event has created a new and unique tourism product for visitors to the city, and at the same time, continued a series of events of the whole summer tourism season in 2023.

Residents and tourists experience making cakes at the Enjoy Da Nang Festival 2023. Photo: THU HA

Experience culinary and traditional craft villages

Along with attractive arts programmes and ‘ao dai’ shows, one of the highlights of this year's festival is the re-enactment of the space of traditional craft villages in Da Nang, such as making of sedge mats in Cam Ne Village, traditional brocade weaving of the Co Tu ethnic group, decorative painting on conical hats, and making ‘banh xeo’ (crispy Vietnamese pancakes) and ‘banh xu xe’ (glutinous coconut cakes with mung-bean paste). Visitors to the craft village spaces are free to experience making local specialties and enjoy their own products.

For the first time trying to make ‘banh xu xe’, Tran Khanh Linh, a tourist from Binh Duong Province, said that it was not easy to make a delicious and beautiful cake. Apart from dough kneading skill, makers have to learn how to fold ‘la chuoi’ (banana leaves) - this is the hardest part to get a beautiful cake.

Similarly, when seeing the brocade weaving loom of the Co Tu people, Mrs. Katelin, an American national, expressed her interest in seeing the finished product of colourful fabric made entirely by hand-woven looms, as well as listening to an introduction about the traditional costumes of the Co Tu people.

“I really admire the ingenuity of the people who make this product. This is very memorable experience in my trip to Da Nang” Mrs. Katelin said.

In addition, the Vietnamese - international cuisine space features more than 50 stalls of more than 100 dishes, souvenirs and OCOP products. With rustic and eye-catching decoration, these stalls attract a lot of visitors.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Tan Van Vuong said that the Enjoy Da Nang Festival is an annual cultural and tourism event with a wide range of attractive and outstanding activities. The organisers have made efforts to refresh activities and increase the experience for residents and visitors. Local tourism service providers have made preparation for facilities, and packages of beach resort, entertainment, and food products to ensure quality to meet the needs and tastes of tourists.

Locals and tourists enthusiastically cheered for the tug of war competition during the Sea Festival. Photo: T.H

Lots of exciting activities

During this year's festival, lots of activities are held continuously along beaches in the city, including the ‘Flying over Tien Sa’ paragliding tournament at Son Tra Peninsula and Man Thai Beach with the participation of over 120 paragliders from professional paragliding clubs.

Besides, the appearance of 30 kites in unique shapes and vibrant colors and paragliding performance activities brings a colourful space in the sky of the East Sea Park.

Notably, the Sea Festival at the beach in front of Ha Khe Square, Xuan Ha Ward, Thanh Khe District with the participation of fishermen from the Farmers' Associations of Thanh Khe, Son Tra and Lien Chieu districts recreated the daily life of coastal fishermen through many activities such as shaking coracles, carrying fish, rowing boats on the sand, and tug of war.

Mr. Tran Dai Nghia, Deputy Director of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches, a series of events within the framework of the Enjoy Da Nang Festival 2023 are held across the city, including the East Sea Park, Ha Khe Square, Man Thai Beach and Son Tra Peninsula. This helps to introduce and promote beaches and other destinations in Da Nang to tourists at both home and abroad.

Mr. Tan Van Vuong added that, from June to August 2023, travel agencies have built attractive tour packages for domestic and international tourists for visitors to choose and experience in Da Nang in the summer, contributing to the effective implementation of the city’s tourism stimulus programme.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG