As part of their ongoing working trip to Europe, on 3 December (local time), a group of Da Nang's leaders, led by municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung, paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France Nguyen Thiep.

Vice Chairman Dung (left) presenting a momento to Vietnamese diplomat Thiep

On behalf of the Da Nang guests, Vice Chairman Dung introduced his city’s potentials and strengths for the development of trade and tourism to the Vietnamese diplomat. Mr Dung noted that investment into the city’s priority aspects such as seaport, logistics, high technology and tourism is welcomed.

Mr Dung also asked for help from the ambassador to assist his city to successfully organise tourism promotion activities in France and some European countries during the period of stay of the Da Nang delegation there. In addition, the Vietnamese diplomat was requested to lend his assistance to establish the bilateral cooperation in seaport development between Da Nang and France’s Marseille City. 

Moreover, Mr Dung also said that Da Nang needs a helping hand from the French government to develop its digital economy, startup ecosystem, and high-tech industry. Assistance is needed to facilitate Da Nang to attend and host sideline events during an official visit by Vietnamese Party and State leaders to France in April 2019, as well as to successfully host the Francophonie Summit in 2021.

In reply, Mr Thiep highly praised Da Nang for its dynamic economic growth over recent years. The municipal Tourism Department was also applauded for its great efforts in advertising local tourism products to European countries during their ongoing working trip here.

He remarked that many French businesses were interested in investing in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole. He added these potential investors have strengths in digital economy, start-up, seaport and logistics which matched with the city's socio-economic development strategies.