As 2024 comes to a close, the Da Nang Newspaper has highlighted the city’s top 10 significant events of the year.

On September 1, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, and leaders of central ministries and Da Nang inspected a number of locations planned to be selected to build functional areas to form the Da Nang Free Trade Zone. Photo: HOANG HIEP

1. Politburo issues Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW

On May 13, 2024, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW on continuing to implement its Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW on building and developing Da Nang to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The Conclusion reviewed the outstanding results of Da Nang after 5 years of implementing Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW, and proposed 6 key groups of solutions.

Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang (6th, right) presenting Certificates of Merit from the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee to collectives and individuals who played a role in advising the Politburo to issue Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW. Photo: NGOC PHU

Under the Conclusion, the focuses is on perfecting institutions, issuing mechanisms and policies, and determining strategic vision and development aspirations, in order to fully and accurately identify potentials, advantages, and space of the city, thereby creating new development space and motivation.

Importance is attached to building mechanisms and policies to mobilise resources to build a pilot free trade zone and a regional-scale international financial center. Heed is on developing Da Nang into a hub for innovation and startups, a high-tech centre of the country, and a regional centre for logistics, tourism - services, training high-quality human resources in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence.

Efforts are made to promote economic restructuring associated with growth model innovation; taking science and technology, innovation as the main driving force; developing green economy and circular economy; and building and developing Da Nang into a major marine economic centrr of the country, an international marine urban area, and a major tourist urban area associated with the marine economy.

​​​​​​On September 30, the Central Government issued Resolution No. 169/NQ-CP on the Government's Action Programme to implement Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW. Resolution No. 169/NQ-CP continues to affirm the special role of Da Nang in the national socio-economic development strategy, and at the same time sets out 7 main tasks and solutions along with 19 specific tasks and projects to turn Da Nang into a modern, smart, regional-scale city.

2. National Assembly issues Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15

On June 26, 2024, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 on the organisation of urban government and piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang, marking an important milestone, and demonstrating the deep concern of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government for Da Nang.

The National Assembly deputies' delegation of Da Nang voted to pass Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15. Photo: VU HUNG

Under the Resolution No. 136, Da Nang is allowed to officially implement urban government from January 1, 2025, along with perfecting the organisation and operation mechanism of the urban government and applying a number of outstanding specific mechanisms and policies.

Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 is an important document for the city to promote all potentials and advantages, unlock resources, and create breakthroughs in development in the coming period. This is also an important turning point for the city to complete the immediate and long-term goals stated in the resolutions of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government's decisions to build and develop Da Nang by 2030, with a vision to 2045.

To implement this important resolution, the Prime Minister issued a decision to establish a Steering Committee for the implementation of Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15, headed by the Prime Minister. Da Nang has also decided to establish a Steering Committee for the implementation of Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15, headed by the Secretary of the City Party Committee.

3. Piloting construction of free trade zone and regional financial centre

Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on the organizsation of urban government and piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang allows the city to pilot the establishment of free trade zone.

The city organised the forum "Da Nang Free Trade Zone - a new driving force for the development of the logistics industry in Da Nang". Photo: M.QUE

The pilot free trade zone is the initial foundation, from which there is a practical basis for building and perfecting the legal system so that other localities can apply it, gradually forming free trade zones suitable to the economic development conditions in Viet Nam. The establishment of the Da Nang Free Trade Zone is the basis for strongly attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Da Nang and the central dynamic economic zone, and promoting the socio-economic development of the region and the whole country.

On November 15, 2024, the Politburo issued Notice No. 47-TB/TW on the construction of a regional and international financial centre in Viet Nam. Accordingly, the policy of establishing a comprehensive international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City and a regional financial centre in Da Nang was approved.

4. Good economic growth

Da Nang's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to increase by 7.51% year-on-year in 2024, ranking 2^nd among 5 centrally-governed cities and 3^rd in the central key economic zone. Of this figure, the added value of the service sector is likely to increase by 7.7%; the industrial - construction sector 7.7%; and the agricultural - forestry - fishery sector 2%.

Tourism activities continue to grow strongly, becoming a bright spot in the city's economic development. In the photo: Tourists visit the Sun World Ba Na Hills. Photo: M.QUE

The economic scale (current price) is estimated at VND 151,300 billion, expanding by more than VND 17,000 billion compared to 2023. GRDP per capita is US$ 4,725. Export turnover of goods reached US$ 1.92 billion, up 3.2%. The city’s total state budget revenue stood at VND 25,760 billion, equal to 133.3% of the estimate assigned by the municipal People's Council and a rise of 19.9% ​​compared to 2023.

Tourism activities continue to develop strongly, becoming a bright spot in economic development. Production and business activities of economic components have regained growth momentum. The index of industrial production (IIP) continued its positive growth pace, with an increase of 6.65% against 2023. In the first 11 months of 2024, the city attracted US$ 213.37 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), up 17.9% over the same period in 2023. The city granted investment policy decisions and domestic and foreign investment registration certificates to domestic projects outside the High-Tech Park, IT park and industrial parks with a total investment capital of VND 69,507 billion, up 56.8% over the same period in 2023.

5. Da Nang to have 36 wards from 2025 onwards

According to Resolution No. 1251/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of district-level and commune-level administrative units in Da Nang during the 2023-2025 period, starting from January 1, 2025, Da Nang will have a total of 8 district-level, and 47 commune-level administrative units.

Civil servants of the “One-stop shop” Department in Thac Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, handle citizens’ administrative procedures. Photo: T. HUY

After the arrangement, Lien Chieu District will have 5 wards, namely Hoa Hiep Bac, Hoa Hiep Nam, Hoa Khanh Bac, Hoa Khanh Nam and Hoa Minh. Thanh Khe District will have 6 wards, namely An Khe, Chinh Gian, Thac Gian, Thanh Khe Dong, Thanh Khe Tay, and Xuan Ha. Hai Chau District will have 9 wards, including Phuoc Ninh, Binh Thuan, Hai Chau, Thuan Phuoc, Thanh Binh, Thach Thang, Hoa Thuan Tay, Hoa Cuong Bac, and Hoa Cuong Nam. Son Tra District will have 6 wards, including An Hai Bac, An Hai Nam, Phuoc My, Man Thai, Tho Quang, and Nai Hien Dong.

The Resolution will come into effect from January 1, 2025.

6. Da Nang wins many prestigious awards

In 2024, Da Nang won many prestigious domestic and international awards. Specifically, Da Nang was one of 6 organisations/localities to be honoured with the award in the category "Top typical organisations/localities actively implementing the Industry 4.0 and digital transformation as announced at the awards ceremony of the ‘I4.0 Awards’ 2024 in the capital city of Ha Noi on September 27. This is the third time in a row that Da Nang has been honoured with the ‘I4.0 Awards’.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (middle) representing the municipal People's Committee received the award for the solution "Smart monitoring and operating system of Da Nang". Photo courtesy of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications.

Also, the city was honoured with Vietnam Digital Awards in 2024 for its solutions on Smart Monitoring and Operating System, and the Digital Journey Monitoring Platform, announced at a ceremony held in the capital city of Ha Noi on October 5.

Da Nang was granted the Viet Nam Smart City Award 2024 for the fifth consecutive time on December 3.

According to the organisers, this was a prestigious and unique award for a group of cities/urban areas in Viet Nam. This is the 5th consecutive time Da Nang has received this award and is also the only locality to secure the top ranking of Viet Nam Smart City since this activity was organised.

Aside from the Viet Nam Smart City Award 2024, Da Nang was honoured with 3 thematic awards: Smart Management and Operation; Attractive Innovation City; and Smart, Green, Clean Environmental Management City.

7. Inauguration and commencement of many key projects

The western ring road with a section connecting National Highway 14B to Ho Chi Minh Road was officially opened to traffic on May 13.

The inauguration of the project of upgrading the Peace Monument and expanding the March 29 Square in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District

The completed route plays a vital role in connecting the ring road system in the city, and at the same time, promoting the traffic network connection between Da Nang and Central and Central Highlands localities through National Highway 1A, National Highway 14B, Ho Chi Minh Road and the city's horizontal road system.

Previously, on January 30, the city inaugurated the DT 601 and DH2 roads, and the western beltway 2. The inauguration of the project of upgrading the Peace Monument and expanding the March 29 Square in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District took place on August 30.

On February 27, Da Nang opened the Organ and Stem Cell Transplantation Centre and the Centre for Neurosurgery, Trauma and Plastic Burns at the Da Nang Hospital. The two centres create a new look for the Da Nang Hospital, helping the hospital maintain and promote its position as a specialised medical centre in the city and central region.

On November 25, construction started on a series of key infrastructure works which were under sub-project 1 on building technical infrastructure and urgent works on an area of ​​49 hectares for the Da Nang University Village project in Hoa Quy - Dien Ngoc, making the first concrete activity on site following a near 20-year delay.

The level 3 technical infrastructure work covers an area of ​​49 hectares in the planning area for the construction of the University of Da Nang in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District. The total construction cost is expected to be more than VND 300 billion.

8. First-ever Da Nang Semiconductor Day 2024

The Semiconductor Da Nang Day 2024 (Semicon Da Nang 2024) officially took place at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang on August 29 and 30.

Within the framework of the event, many agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation between Da Nang and partners, enterprises, and investors were signed.

Semicon Da Nang 2024 was the first of its kind in the city and Central Viet Nam, marking a new milestone in the city’s development journey.

Its aim was to promote the potential, advantages, and investment opportunities of Da Nang in the field of semiconductors so that enterprises, investors and organizations at both home and abroad could decide to invest and take advantage of attracting domestic and foreign investment resources.

Within the framework of the event, many agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation between Da Nang and partners, enterprises, and investors were signed.

Specifically, the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, Synopsys and Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group signed a tripartite cooperation agreement on developing the Da Nang semiconductor ecosystem.

The Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, Synopsys and Sovico Group inked a tripartite cooperation agreement on attracting investors in the field of semiconductors.

Another tripartite cooperation agreement was signed by the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, Makara Capital Partners and a consortium of investors in Viet Nam on cooperation and investment support in startups and innovation in Da Nang.

The Da Nang Department of Information and Communications signed memoranda of understanding with Marvell Group and FPT IS, respectively to support the development of semiconductor chips in the city.

9. Allocate more resources to take care of social welfare

On December 13, at its 21^st session, the Da Nang People's Council in its 10^th tenure for the 2021-2026 term passed a resolution regulating the level of financial support for building new houses or repairing downgraded houses for people with revolutionary contributions and relatives of martyrs in the city.

In 2024, the city will continue to devote many resources to social security. IN PHOTO: Financial support for house construction given to a poor family in Thanh Khe District. Photo: LAM PHUONG

Accordingly, in addition to the support level prescribed by the Prime Minister, the city budget will support an additional VND 40 million/household for new house construction, and VND 10 million/household for house renovation and repair. It is expected that 200 households will have new houses with a support cost of VND 8 billion in total, and 600 households will their houses repaired with a support cost of VND 6 billion.

Not only for people with revolutionary contributions, from July 1, the city will increase the support level for building new houses for poor households to VND 80 million/house instead of VND 50 million/house, and the support level for housing repairs for poor households up to VND 30 million/house instead of VND 20 million/house.

Previously, on July 30, at its 19^th session, the 10^th municipal People's Council passed a resolution to subsidise tuition fees for pupils and students at vocational training institutions in the 2024-2025 school year, with a total support fund of nearly VND 108.2 billion. This is the fourth consecutive year the city has exempted tuition fees for pupils.

10. Building Hoa Vang new-style rural areas achieves many achievements

In 2024, Hoa Vang District achieved many great achievements in implementing the new-style rural area construction programme. The district implemented many drastic solutions to ensure the goal of achieving the standards of 3 advanced new-style rural communes and 2 model new rural communes in 2024.

Hoa Vang District effectively promotes resources and improves the quality of criteria to achieve the goal of an advanced and exemplary new-style rural commune. Photo: TRAN TRUC

In 2025, the district strives for 100% of communes to meet the standards of advanced new-style rural areas, and 3 communes to meet the model new rural areas. The locality targets to effectively implement the movement "The whole city joins hands to build new-style rural areas in Hoa Vang District in 2023-2025".

On the other hand, agricultural development is associated with restructuring the agricultural sector and improving the quality of the new-style rural area programme. The focuss is on developing the digital economy and digital society, and strengthening the implementation of the digital transformation program in new rural area construction.

Translating by MAI DUNG