In recent years, SUP ( stand up paddle boarding) has been an outdoor marine sports activity that many tourists, especially young people, choose to experience during their Da Nang trips. Thanks to this activity, Man Thai Beach becomes vibrant, attracting more tourists with colorful SUPs.

Tourists gather at the Man Thai Beach for SUP activities. Photo: HUY TUAN

Modern stand-up paddle boarding, which is a sport that involves standing on a large, inflatable surfboard, like plank and paddling through the water, has been attracting attention of Da Nang locals and tourists.

At around 5.00 a.m., when the sun startes shining, armed with a paddle, a massive inflatable surfboard, and a sense of adventure, many tourists flock to the Man Thai Beach to explore the open waters.

Most of them are young people and foreign tourists from South Korea, the United States and Australia. Here, tourists are guided in the skills of using SUP to move on the sea, and how to handle situations when being hit by waves into the water.

Knowing about SUP through social networking sites, Mr. Tran Van Quang, a tourist from the capital city of HaNoi wanted to participate in this activity. Therefore, on this trip to Da Nang, he chose to experience SUP.

Mr. Quang expressed: “This is a completely new experience and discovery, bringing very interesting feelings of being in harmony with nature, with cool clear water. You can see and feel better about the lives of local people in the coastal area right from the early morning. I hope SUP becomes more diversified and attractive marine tourism product."

According to Mr. Nguyen Nhat Quang, a coach from RI SUP club, a large number of SUP players often crowd into the Man Thai Beach on weekends, with an average of 30-40 each morning.

According to Mr. Quang, some know how to play whilst others don't. So before practicing, all of them are instructed on how to properly use surfboards and handle situations as well. Even though there are guides accompanying them into the waters, players must wear full life jackets to ensure safety.

As one of the pioneers in bringing SUP to Da Nang beaches, Mr. Pham Anh Viet, the investor of Man Thai beach, said that, over the past two years, this beach sport has flourished. Noticeably, during recent break for the National Reunification Day and May Day, more than 1,000 SUP players came to Man Thai Beach each day. Therefore, Mr. Viet is moving to establish SUP Man Thai cooperative, including units providing and surfboards rental services at Man Thai beach, with general rules for systematic SUP rowing activities  to ensure safety of the players.

He hopes that SUP will become a unique and typical tourism product of Da Nang beaches. Those who provide SUP services not only simply rent related tools, but also provide visitors with experiences and thoughtful are services, so that when they finish playing, they will remember and recommend their friends and relatives to come back to Da Nang beaches.

“We hope the Da Nang authorities will soon issue regulations or specific instructions for SUP activities to ensure service quality, safety of players and create a healthy service and business environment.”, Mr. Viet said.

SUP is becoming an indispensable experience for tourists during their Da Nang beach. Photo: THU HA

Deputy Head of the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang tourist beaches Tran Dai Nghia said that the SUP activity at Man Thai Beach is a new sport that has been introduced to Viet Nam.

To date, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has yet to issue specific guidelines. Therefore, to ensure safety for of SUP players, the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang tourist beaches has actively implemented a number of temporary regulations.

For instance, it is strictly forbidden to practice SUP when there is bad weather or rough seas. SUP business units must arrange a trainer for a group of no more than 3 SUPs and require players to wear life jackets and only operate in permitted areas.

Also, business units must sign commitments, set up buoys and at the same time arrange on-duty rescuers and patrols in the operating area.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU