In 2022, despite difficulties and challenges triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and global economic impacts, the Party Committee, government and people of Da Nang struggled to promote the spirit of consensus, flexibility, and creativity, tap full potential of domestic and foreign resources, and take advantage of opportunities to rise up.

As a result, the city achieved many outstanding socio-economic development results, creating new motivations to well implement the goals and tasks set for 2023.

Here is the list of Da Nang's greatest achievements in the year, selected by the Da Nang Newspaper.

1. Da Nang ranks third in GRDP growth

Da Nang’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) saw a 14.05% year-on-year increase to hit VND73,860 billion, ranking third in terms of GRDP growth in 2022 among the 63 cities and provinces nationwide.

The scale of the whole economy in 2022 reached VND125,218 billion, an increase of VND14,032 billion compared to 2019. The city's average GRDP per capita was US$4,309.

In terms of economic structure, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector accounted for 1.95% of the total GRDP; the industry and construction sector 20.42%; the service sector 68.39%; and the product tax 9.24%.

Some other economic indicators also grew well. In particular, the added value of the service sector climbed by 17.9%; the added value of the industry-construction sector 6.4%; the value added of the agriculture - forestry - fishery sector 3.4%; and the commodity export turnover 15.8%.

The total state budget revenue in the city fulfilled 120% of the estimate, up 3.5% compared to 2021, whilst the total development investment capital rose by 11.5%.

Engineers working at the SMT high-tech electronics manufacturing and assembly factory located in the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park.

2. Party Committee’s Steering Committee on Anti-corruption

On May 21, 2022, the Party Committee’s Standing Board issued Decision No. 4319-QD/TU regarding the establishment of the Steering Committee on Anti-corruption.

Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang was selected as the Head of the Steering Committee. The Deputy Heads of the Steering Committee were Deputy Secretary cum People’s Council Chairman Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Head of the Party Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs Vo Cong Chanh, Head of the municipal Party Committee’s Organisation Board Nguyen Dinh Vinh, Chairwoman of the Party Committee’s Inspection Board Le Thi My Hanh, and Director of the Department of Police Vu Xuan Vien.

After its establishment, the Steering Committee issued working regulations, developed working programmes and plans, and established a helping division.

The newly established Steering Committee put 6 cases under monitoring. Also, the focus was on speeding up the handling of cases, removing difficulties and obstacles in valuation in criminal proceedings for cases under the supervision of the Steering Committee, and requesting Party committees at all levels to direct the city's procedural agencies to take responsibility for expediting the progress of verifying, investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating cases to ensure evidence and not omit criminals.

The second session of the Steering Committee on Anti-corruption in progress. Photo: N.P

3. Thematic information conference for Party cell secretaries

On March 29, 2022, the municipal Party Committee organized a symposium for more than 1,200 secretaries of Party Cells in residential areas.

This was an opportunity for the city's leaders to meet and praise Party cell secretaries in residential areas for their efforts in overcoming difficulties to well fulfill their assigned tasks. This continued to affirm the important position and role of Party cell secretaries in implementing the Party guidelines, State policies and laws of the State, and local emulation movements, thereby making an important contribution to the building of Party and political system, the socio-economic development, and ensuring national defence and security.

Municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang awarding Certificates of Merit to outstanding Party cell secretaries in residential areas at an information conference on March 29, 2022. Photo: N.PHU

4. Strong and impressive tourism recovery tourism

since the Government fully reopened domestic and international tourism on March 15, Da Nang focused on promotion and communication activities to resume international flights and markets, as well as developing new tourism products and services in a bid to lure more visitors to the city.

In 2022, the number of arrivals at tourist accommodation facilities reached 3.69 million, an increase of 3.1 times as compared to 2021, recovering 50% compared to 2019. Of this, international visitors hit 483,000, up 4.6 times compared to 2021 whilst domestic ones were 3.2 million, 3 times higher than that in 2021.

The revenue of accommodation, food and travel is estimated at VND21,300 billion, accounting for 17% of the city's economic structure, nearly 2 times higher than that in 2021 and a similar recovery compared to 2019 with VND 21,390 billion.

Also outstandingly, many attractive tourism events and activities of national and international statures were successfully organised in the past year such as online travel fair Danang Fantasticity, Enjoy Danang Summer Festival 2022, Asian Development Golf Tournament, Routes Asia 2022, and Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) Da Nang 2022.

Furthermore, Da Nang was honoured as ‘Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2022’ at a gala ceremony of the World Travel Awards in the Asia&Oceania region held in Ho Chi Minh City in September.

Da Nang beat eight rivals, namely Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing, Shanghai, Macau, Hong Kong (China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Seoul (South Korea) and Singapore to win the award.

This is the second time Da Nang has received this prestigious title since 2016. The prestigious award not only continues to affirm the prestige and reputation of the city, but also makes it included in the list of modern and safe destinations with many international events on the global tourism map.

Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh (right) receiving the prestigious award 'Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2022' at the awards ceremony in September. Photo: THU HA

5. Taking lead in digital transformation

Da Nang topped the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) rankings in 2022 at provincial and city levels in all three key pillars of digital government, digital economy and digital society.

Additionally, in early December 2022, the city won the Viet Nam Smart City Award 2022 for the third time.

Launched by the Viet Nam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), the annual prestigious award aims to promote digital transformation, the application of information technology, and the building of smart cities across the country, as well as honour achievements of cities, urban areas, industrial parks, and technological solutions.

Notably, at this year’s awards ceremony, Da Nang grabbed 3 specialized prizes for smart transportation and logistics city; attractive city for innovation start-ups; and smart city application fields that have been applied in practice, bringing efficiency to people, businesses, communities and society.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Quang Nam (center) receives the Viet Nam Smart City Award 2022. Photo: M.Q

6. Successful organization of Da Nang Investment Forum 2022

At the end of June 2022, the Da Nang Investment Forum 2022 was successfully organized. This was an important event to promote and advertise the city's potential, advantages and investment opportunities to domestic and foreign businesses, investors, and international organizations.

During the event, the municipal government granted investment licences and investment policy decisions to 27 domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) projects totalling more than USD 5.6 billion.

During the year, investment policy decisions and investment licences were awarded to 29 domestic projects with a total investment capital of more than VND10,058 billion, doubling the capital in 2021, and 42 FDI projects with total registered investment capital of US$69.356 million.

A total of 4,169 enterprises, branches and representative offices worth a total of VND21,049 billion were set up in the city, a rise of 29.5% and 37.5% in the number of newly-established firms and in the total registered investment capital respectively, compared to the year-ago period.

A combined total of 2,146 businesses resumed operations in 2022, up 28.5% over the same period in 2021.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Da Nang leaders along with honourees who were chosen for their large investment projects in the city, the completion of their projects ahead of schedule, and their dedication and commitment to the city’s investment promotion activities. Photo: V.HOANG

7. Lien Chieu mega-port project kickstarts

Work started on the shared infrastructure of the Lien Chieu mega-port project on December 14, 2022, in Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District.

The traffic project in group A will cost a total of VND3,426.3 billion. Of which, VND 2,994.59 billion will be funded by the central budget capital in the 2021-2025 period, whilst the rest will come from the city budget.

Once completed, the project will help reduce the overload at the Tien Sa and Son Tra terminals, and ease traffic volumes going through the inner city, thereby strengthening regional and inter-regional connections, and promoting the city’s sustainable socio-economic development.

Previously, on March 28, 2022, the traffic infrastructure project at western end of the Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Da Nang, officially opened to traffic. The project played a vital role in ensuring traffic safety and order traffic, and creating an architectural and landscape highlight in the city.

Leaders of the Party, State and city pressing the buttons to kick-start the construction of the shared infrastructure of the Lien Chieu Port project. Photo: T.LAN

8. Great resources for social welfare

In 2022, the city carried out many synchronous and effective policies and solutions to ensure social welfare, especially taking care of people with meritorious services to the revolution, poor households, and social policy beneficiaries.

Currently, more than 18,100 people with meritorious services and their relatives are receiving regular subsidies with a total annual budget of over VND351 billion. 100 heroic Vietnamese mothers receive monthly allowances of 1 million VND each. Over 34,000 orphans, the elderly, the disabled, and single women are being offered social protection allowances of VND400,000 - VND1.2 million/person/month, with a total budget of nearly VND 250 billion/year. VND20 billion/year is spent for taking care of more than 4,000 social policy beneficiaries.

During the year, 733 families with meritorious services received financial support for building new houses and repairing downgraded ones. Households living below the city's poverty thresholds enjoyed 60% reduction or exemption on apartment rental fees.12,163 turns of social policy beneficiaries and disadvantaged people who suffered from serious diseases received monthly allowances of VND300,000 - VND500,000 each.

Especially, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2023, the city government spent more than VND115 billion on presenting Tet gifts to people with meritorious services, poor workers, and social policy beneficiaries, an increase of VND50 billion compared to the 2022 Lunar New Year.

Also, the city passed a resolution to support 9 months of tuition fees for the 2022-2023 school year for pupils studying at public and non-public preschools to high schools.

In addition, more than VND4,685 billion worth of funding from the municipal government was used to buy textbooks for 8,438 poor pupils and those who became orphans by COVID-19, and 4,400 students living in poor and near-poor families studying at public and non-public educational institutions in the 2022-2023 school year.

Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary cum People’s Council Chairman Luong Nguyen Minh Triet visited social policy families on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27). Photo: X.DUNG

9. 'Ma Nhai' at Marble Mountains recognized as documentary heritage

On November 26, 2022, ‘Ma Nhai’ (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains was officially recognized as a documentary heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World for the Asia-Pacific Region Programme.

‘Ma Nhai’ at the Marble Mountains was highly appreciated by MOWCAP members for fully meeting the criteria set by UNESCO such as authenticity and integrity, regional significance, gender significance, and having a specific plan to preserve and promote sustainable and scientific values.

The recognition opens up a great advantage for Da Nang to exploit, improve its position and promote the heritage for the purpose of the city’s socio-economic development. At the same time, it also affirms that the city is not only an economically developed city, but also a locality with a long history and culture.

In 2022, the city mobilized a lot of resources to invest in the construction, restoration and upgrading of key cultural works of great significance.

In particular, the Da Nang Party Committee, the Institute of Military History under the Ministry of Defence, and the High Command of the city-based Military Zone 5 held a ceremony in September to inaugurate the Don Nhat - Hai Van Gate relic site, aiming to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the Don Nhat - Hai Van Gate Victory. This was part of the project on preserving, restoring and promoting the Hai Van Gate relic site.

Also, the municipal government gave a nod to spend VND212 billion on upgrading the Peace Monument and expanding the March 29 Square in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District.

Moreover, the over VND504 billion project on renovating and upgrading the 42 Bach Dang facility into the new museum of Da Nang Museum is underway.

'Pho Da Son Linh Trung Phat' is considered the most valuable 'ma nhai' at the Marble Mountains scenic spot.

10. Mobilizing resources on overcoming natural disaster-triggered heavy damage

From October 13 to 15, 2022, due to the influence of storm No.5 (Son Ca), many parts of Da Nang braced for historical high rainfall, resulting in major flooding which caused heavy damage to residents’ houses and properties, and seriously affected daily life and production activities.

52 out of the 56 communes and wards citywide were flooded, many places of them were submerged by 0.5-1m, even up to 2m.

The impact of storms and heavy rains resulted in 4 deaths. Property damage was estimated at VND1,500 billion. Nearly 70,000 houses were flooded, 74ha of vegetables were destroyed, nearly 60,000 poultry and livestock were drowned, 14 schools were flooded and badly damaged, over 2,000 cars and 30,000 motorbikes were flooded. Serious landslides occurred at the Hoa Son Cemetery in Hoa Vang District with an area of more than 2.2ha.

Immediately after the rain stopped and the water receded, the all-level authorities directed relevant agencies and residents to clean up the environment and support flood-affected families.

Natural disaster prevention and control forces in Chinh Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, wading into the deep flooded areas to evacuate victims. Photo: H.HIEP

Reporting by DA NANG Newspaper - Translating by M.DUNG