The following events have been selected by the DA NANG Newspaper as the top ten in 2018.

1. The 15-year implementation of the 9^th Politburo’s Resolution No 33 reviewed.

Some Politburo members and Da Nang leaders

On 13 December, some members from the ninth tenure Politburo worked with leaders of the municipal Party Committee to review the 15-year implementation of the 9^th Politburo’s Resolution No 33 on the city’s construction and its development during the process of industrialisation and modernisation.

Since the Politburo issued the Resolution on its development 15 years ago, Da Nang has made several breakthroughs and turned itself into one of Viet Nam’s most livable cities.

The city is one of first localities in Viet Nam in accelerating administrative reforms, and it has gradually affirmed its position as a major socio-economic hub in the central region.

Between 2003 and 2018, the city maintained its average gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate of 10% per year. In 2018, its GRDP achieved an estimated 63,960 billion VND, a 4.2-fold increase against 2003, and per capita GRDP showed a 7-fold rise to reach an estimate of 82.8 million VND.

During that period, the total State budget collected in the city reached 188,740 billion VND, up 14.4% year-on-year. The city also shifted its economic structure more towards services, industry, and agriculture in order to achieve its sustainable development.

2. The ‘2018: The Year of Investment Promotion’ campaign

Workers at the Nissan automobile factory in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park.

The city selected 2018 as its year of investment promotion in an effort to maximise on its advantages and create a breakthrough in local socio-economic development.

Therefore, by the end of last year, numerous investment promotion activities have been organised at both home and abroad, including potential markets namely the USA, Canada, Cuba, Qatar, Singapore, and South Africa.

Also, more preferential policies have been issued for domestic and foreign investors. Moreover, the city attended the 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN 2018).

3. GRDP increases by 7.86%

Cruise ship passengers arriving at the Tien Sa Port.

Over the last year, the city’s economy maintained stable growth and GRDP rises by 7.86% against 2017. The total development investment capital reached an estimated 39,000 billion VND, up 8.2% in comparison with previous year. Meanwhile, the total budget collection surpassed the city’s estimates by 2.5% to generate 26,513.5 billion VND.

Notably, tourism secured its position as one of the city’s spearhead economic sectors. In 2018 alone, the city welcomed around 7.66 million visitors, an increase of 15.5% against the previous year. Of this figure, the number of foreigners rose by 23.3% to hit 2.87 million, whilst domestic visitor arrivals went up by 11.2% to 4.78 million.

Thanks to this, the city’s tourism sector earned an estimated 24 trillion VND in revenue, a 23.3% increase against last year.

Also, Da Nang came out top of the Viet Nam ICT Index 2018, the ranking on the readiness for information and communications technology development and applications, for the 10^th consecutive year, and finished 2^nd in the Viet Nam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for 2017.

4. Da Nang recognised as Viet Nam's green city of the year

On behalf of the city leaders and citizens, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuan (right) receiving a certificate of recognition of the city as the ‘National Capital of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s One Planet City Challenge 2018 (OPCC)’ from Country Director of WWF-Viet Nam Van Ngoc Thinh.

Da Nang was officially awarded the title ‘National Capital of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s One Planet City Challenge 2018 (OPCC) programme’ in a ceremony on 31 August, making it the only city in Viet Nam to join a list of 21 cities around the world for the title of the global winner of the OPCC 2018.

The title demonstrates tremendous efforts made by the city in developing policies and initiatives for making it become the leading green city with sustainable development in Viet Nam.

The focus was on developing practical plans on the reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) and carbon emissions, promoting the utility of renewable energy sources through developing solar power systems, increasing the public consumption of bio-fuel, initiating the construction of an urban waste-to-energy plant, enhancing the green transport development, especially with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, and establishing wastewater treatment systems throughout the city.

Da Nang really impressed the international jury board with its ambitious and innovative climate actions in an active response to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Accordingly, the city submitted a target of decreasing carbon emissions by 25% from 2016 emission levels by 2030.

5. Creating beach walkways

Municipal Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia checking the creation of a beach walkway.

The municipal authorities have given the nod for the municipal Management Board of Traffic Project Investment and Construction to create 5 beach walkways in Ngu Hanh Son District in order to allow public access to beaches easily.

In particular, the first coastal footpath will be created at between the Furama Resort Danang and the Ariyana Danang Tourism Complex in Khue My Ward, and the second at the end of coastal Ho Xuan Huong Street in My An Ward.

The others will be on the southern side of the Hoang Dat Silver Shores Exceptional International Entertainment project, on the northern side of the Song - Danang Beach Villas project, and on the southern side of the Future Property Invest tourism area project.

6. Accelerating the streamlining of administrative apparatus and the reducing of regular public servants

Public servants from the 10 wards in Thanh Khe District attending a contest on administrative reform

In line with a resolution released by 12^th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) on reducing the number of employees on the State payroll, the city has taken many effective manner to accelerate the streamlining of its administrative apparatus to realise the goal of further reducing the total regular personnel members in its Party and mass organisations.

To date, a total of 96 regular personnel members working for local government agencies have been crossed out.

By 2021, the city aims to make 106 others redundant. Redundant employees who are still of working age will be re-trained for future employment or will be introduced to new job opportunities.

7. Poverty reduction programme in the 2018-2020 period being completed 2 years ahead of the schedule.

Presenting means of livelihood for a needy woman

Thanks to the city’s many policies and solutions, the poverty reduction programme in the 2018-2020 period has been completed 2 years ahead of the schedule, and proved a high efficiency.

The city authorities have given the green light to lifting the city’s poverty thresholds. Accordingly, a poor household in urban areas has per capita income of 1,500,000 VND or less, or earns an amount ranging from over 1,500,000 VND to 1,900,000 VND but lacks of access to 3 basic social services.

8. The Marble Mountains Tourist Area’s recognition as a special national-level relic site

The fanciful and mysterious Huyen Khong Cave inside the Marble Mountains Tourist Area

The Marble Mountains Tourist Area in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang has been recognised as a special national-level relic site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Apart from its scenic charm, the site shows off its special, profound historical and cultural values.

The Marble Mountains site in fact is a cluster of 6 limestone mounts, namely Kim Son, Moc Son, Thuy Son, Am Hoa Son, Duong Hoa Son, and Tho Son.

9. Tightening the management of planning, construction and urban order

Violations discovered at the Muong Thanh Hotel and Son Tra High-Class Apartment Complex project on Vo Nguyen Giap Street in Da Nang were handled

The city’s functional bodies have increased the management and inspections of urban planning and construction activities.

Regarding planning strategies, in early December 2018, the municipal government has selected the Sakae Corporate Advisory in Singapore as the general planning consultant for the city’s master plan to 2030, with a vision towards 2050.

Over the past year, violations in terms of land management, construction and urban order were handed in a prompt yet effective manner.

10. Record rainfall and flooding slamming the city

Road users managing to go through a flooded street

Many streets and houses have been submerged in water after prolonged torrential rains poured down Da Nang from 8 until 10 December.

According to final estimates, a total of 2,300 houses, working places, and business facilities in inner-city areas were flooded, whilst about 34 houses in the hardest hit rural district of Hoa Vang were also submerged in floodwaters.

A total of over 200 ha of vegetable growing land in the districts of Hoa Vang, Ngu Hanh Son, Cam Le and Lien Chieu were damaged. In addition, a large number of Tet flowers and ornamental trees, plus many tonnes of shrimps and farmed fish in Ngu Hanh Son District were swept away by floodwater.