People-to-people diplomacy activities in Da Nang have become increasingly vibrant, professional, and effective in recent times, contributing to building and expanding deep friendships with international partners. As a result, opportunities for comprehensive cooperation between the city and foreign localities and organisations have emerged. This collaboration creates favourable conditions for the local socio-economic development and enhances the city's position in the integration process.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh (right) awarded the emulation flag "Leading unit in people-to-people diplomacy in 2024" to the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations. Photo: THANH PHUONG

Cultivating friendship

In recent years, the city has hosted many international cultural and sports events, including the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF), the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, the Viet Nam - Japan Festival, the Viet Nam - Korea Festival, the Da Nang International Yoga Festival, the Asian Golf Tourism Convention, and the Da Nang International Marathon.These events have significantly contributed to advertising Da Nang as a dynamic, friendly and hospitable city and the leading event destination in the region.

Each year, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations (DAFO) collaborates with various units, embassies, consulates general and cultural agencies from different countries to organise around 40 diverse and practical activities and events focused on peace, solidarity, and friendship. These include international seminars combined with photo exhibitions, cultural festivals, friendship exchanges, and language speaking competitions. The scale of these activities is increasing, and they are designed to have meaningful content, creating a broad impact within the community.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh, Chairman of DAFO, stated that people-to-people diplomacy has become a vital bridge of solidarity and friendship in promoting the image of Viet Nam and Da Nang as friendly, hospitable, and safe destinations, contributing to the city's deep international integration and affirming it as a leading event destination in Asia.

A bright spot in the picture of people-to-people diplomacy is the vibrant development of district-level diplomacy activities. A typical example has been the cultural exchange programme for junior high school pupils between Hai Chau District, Da Nang and Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea since 2023. This serves as a premise for both sides to officially elevate their relationship to the level of twinning in 2025, thereby expanding comprehensive cooperation, including in the economic sector.

Other localities in the city are actively engaging in foreign affairs. Specifically, Son Tra District has signed an agreement with Gurye District in South Korea, while Cam Le District is fostering cooperation with Muju District, also in South Korea. Notably, Hoa Vang District has inked cooperation agreements with three districts in South Korea, namely Yeongyang, Bonghwa, and Gurye.

As part of the 2025 Vietnamese Tet Festival, Hoa Vang District welcomed a working and artistic delegation from Yeongyang District for a visit, work, and cultural exchanges. The parties involved believe that cultural exchange serves as an effective bridge to enhance understanding and solidarity, paving the way for deeper cooperation in such aspects as trade and investment.

Serving socio-economic development

In addition to fostering friendship, people-to-people diplomacy increasingly aims to serve socio-economic development by connecting and mobilising international resources to support Da Nang in such spheres as investment, education, innovation, startups, tourism, and technology.

In 2024, DAFO and Catalyste+ from Canada entered into an agreement to implement a "Programme to Support Capacity Building for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Da Nang" for the 2024 - 2026 period. Under the deal, both parties collaborated with relevant units to host an international workshop titled "Women and Innovative Startups". This workshop aimed to assist women in starting their businesses successfully, thereby contributing positively to the city's economic development goals. As a result, ten women-owned enterprises that met specific criteria were selected to participate in a capacity support programme led by international experts.

In June 2023, DAFO in collaboration with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations organised an international workshop titled "Developing the Da Nang Innovative Startup Ecosystem and People-to-People Diplomacy in Connecting and Mobilising Resources”. The event attracted participants from 20 European and Asian countries, who shared insights on building and operating innovative startup ecosystems and accessing foreign resources such as experts, capital, and technology. Additionally, DAFO hosted the Viet Nam-Thailand business contact programme, which saw the participation of over 50 domestic and Thai enterprises. This event was part of the 12^th conference between the Viet Nam - Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand - Viet Nam Friendship Association.

With the motto "Friendship - Cooperation - Integration - Development", DAFO identifies people-to-people diplomacy as not only a channel of friendship relations, but also an important part of the city's comprehensive development strategy.

Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Binh said that in the coming time, DAFO will concentrate on consolidating, developing and deepening relations with traditional partners, neighboring countries and ASEAN member nations, as well as strategic partners with whom Da Nang is currently cooperating.

At the same time, the union will collaborate with various sectors and units to promote the introduction and attraction of foreign investment in priority areas, including high technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), trade, and services.

Moreover, efforts will be made to mobilise resources and secure aid for programmes and projects related to international volunteers, social security, and the socio-economic development of the city. There will be a strong focus on effectively implementing initiatives for overseas Vietnamese.

People-to-people diplomacy, together with the Party's foreign affairs and State diplomacy, will create a solid foundation for Viet Nam's comprehensive diplomatic efforts. In the context of increasing global integration, enhancing the role of people-to-people diplomacy will help bolster Da Nang's position, attract development resources, and promote the building of a prosperous, civilised, and integrated city.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG