On May 13, 2024, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW on continuing to implement its Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2019 on building and developing Da Nang by 2030, with a vision towards 2045. This is an important document, creating new driving force for the central coastal city to have appropriate action plans and propose steps with a stronger and more drastic breakthrough mindset in its construction and development process in the new situation.

In its Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW, the Politburo stated that the development of culture and people must be placed on a par with economic development, contributing to bringing the image of Da Nang as a civilised and modern city with a strong national identity to international friends.

Da Nang identifies culture and people as an important foundation and driving force in line with its political, economic, cultural and social conditions in the new period.

Da Nang continues to build a culture and people with their own identity. IN PHOTO: Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang (left) presenting the Best Film Award to film crew of "Cu li khong bao gio khoc" (Cu Li Never Cries). Photo: X.D

Preserving cultural identity and people of Da Nang

From a geo-cultural perspective, Da Nang is located in the land honoured as "five phoenixes flying together" associated with the tradition of studiousness and passion for creativity, and a land converging marine culture, agricultural culture and urban culture.

According to researcher Dinh Thi Trang, President of the city’s Folk Arts Association, Da Nang culture is not separate but develops within the culture of Quang land. Through the historical process, Da Nang is a place where people from many other localities come to live, and a place where cultural features of many regions in the country are exchanged and converged.

Since ancient times, people have known how to select the new to create the unique features of Da Nang culture such as voice; a modest, simple, unpretentious, formal lifestyle; promoting family, clan, and community relationships; and friendly and hospitable behaviour.

"Most especially, local people are not skillful or sophisticated to please others, but their feelings are warm and simple" Mrs. Trang said.

During the process of urbanisation, industrialisation, and modernisation, Da Nang culture today both preserves traditional features and has the modern ones of a young, civilised city. The beautiful and humane cultural identity of Da Nang people has become a core, steadfast value and is truly valuable in spreading the image of the city.

Currently, the city is making efforts to turn itself into a worth living and worth visiting place. This is partly reflected in tourism, from the way the city's people behave and communicate with domestic and foreign tourists.

There is no shortage of beautiful stories about shining examples of good deeds in the city such as a female sanitation worker picking up and returning a handbag containing billions of VND to its owner; people buying gas for tourists when their car ran out of gas in the middle of the road; and shops not overcharging tourists. All create beautiful anecdotes about humanity, making tourists love Da Nang even more.

At the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2024, when asked about his feelings about Da Nang, Mr. Kyle Wright from the U.S. shared he was very impressed by the beautiful natural landscape, qualified tourism services and delicious food. He added that local people are very friendly and hospitable, making him feel safe and warm like at home.

As the central city of the Central and Central Highlands regions, Da Nang's cultural identity is also reflected in its friendly and harmonious living environment, peaceful pace of life, and united community. The beautiful and humane cultural identity of Da Nang people has become a core, steadfast value and has truly spread value, fostering good qualities for immigrant citizens in the process of cohabitation and cultural assimilation.

Mrs. Hach Thi Phuong, hailing from Thanh Hoa Province, has been living in Da Nang for more than 20 years. She said that she chose to stay here for many reasons, including the simples, honesty, friendliness and sincere of local people.

"After many years of living here, I often hear people compare Da Nang to Singapore as beautiful and civilised. This makes me feel quite happy with my choice to stay here, wanting to “flex” the city to my friends at home and abroad,” Mrs. Phuong expressed.

Singer Anh Tu performing the song “Tuyet Voi Da Nang” (Wonderful Da Nang) at the final round of the 2024 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. Photo: X.D

International integration, cultural development

The constant growth of the city results in profound and comprehensive changes in the culture and lifestyle of local people towards modernity and international integration. This is the foundation, and also a crucial condition for the city to develop the culture and people in the spirit of the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW.

According to Mr. Bui Cong Minh, former Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Literature and Arts Associations of the city, urban civilisation culture and people's culture are endogenous strengths that need to be especially valued and promoted in the new development context of the city today. This requires the city to concentrate on building a community of residents with standard ideology, ethics, and lifestyle, in accordance with traditional customs and practices and an open style of exchange on a national and international scale.

In addition, the locality must have large, reputable enterprises in the business of special cultural products, capable of widely promoting local cultural values ​​at both home and abroad, thereby creating local cultural brands and contributing to building a vibrant cultural market.

Also, there must be a mechanism to attract and nurture a team of cultural talents and encourage artists to create excellent literary and artistic works that resonate not only within the city, but also be welcomed domestically and regionally.

During its international integration process, Da Nang lays an emphasis on reviewing and perfecting mechanisms and policies for the development of cultural industries.

In particular, priority is given to preserving and promoting the values ​​of national cultural heritage, relics, landscapes and scenic spots associated with the development of cultural industries. A clear demonstration is the effort to turn ‘Ma Nhai’ (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains into a documentary heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World for the Asia-Pacific Region Programme.

Moreover, the city is trying to enrich its collection of national treasures with three new ones in 2024, bringing the total number in Da Nang to 9, all of which are being preserved and displayed at the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

The Hai Van Gate national relic site was reopened to tourists on August 1 after two years of restoration. It is the only national relic site managed by two central localities of Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang.

Currently, Da Nang is focusing on completing the upgrade of the existing headquarters of the municipal People's Council at 42-44 Bach Dang Street into new Museum of Da Nang. The work is expected to be put into use on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the city's Liberation Day (March 29, 1975 - March 29, 2025).

Additionally, importance is being attached to implementing the 2^nd stage of the Dien Hai Citadel restoration and embellishment project.

It is known that by late 2024, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports will submit a project on developing the cultural industry to the People's Committee for consideration and approval, contributing positively to the local socio-economic development.

According to the leader of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, international integration, absorbing the quintessence of human culture, and developing the cultural industry are important tasks included in the project "Developing culture and society in sync with economic development, with a focus on building civilized and friendly Da Nang people as the foundation for forming a peaceful and liveable city, and unique identity values in line with the traditions, history, and culture of Da Nang people in the period of 2022-2030”.

During the period, the city will strengthen international cooperation and exchange, as well as host international events at regional and global scale that are suitable to the local socio-economic situation. At the same time, heed will be on issuing preferential policies on capital, tax, land, and regional conditions to encourage start-up activities and promote creativity among artists. 

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG