The Da Nang administration has had to reassure angry residents and experts that any plan to build a cable car system on top of a mountain in Son Tra Peninsula, dubbed the city’s lungs, is only 'an idea,' rather than an official project.

A corner of the peninsula is seen from the Ban Co Peak. Tuoi Tre

Rumors circulated last week that the Da Nang authorities had allowed local realty developer Sun Group to build a cable car system on the Son Tra Peninsula.

The cable car system is rumored to be able to bring tourists from the Dai Duong (Ocean) Park to the Ban Co (Chess Board) Peak of the Son Tra Mountain, a must-see attraction of the peninsula, facing the East Sea.

7 kilometers from the heart of the city, the forest-covered Son Tra Peninsula has become increasingly attractive as a tourist retreat. The forests and mountains of the peninsula offer tourists a pristine seascape away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

An aerial view of the peninsula. Photo: Tuoi Tre

As building a cable car to the mountain is likely to severely impact the ecosystem of the peninsula, members of the public and experts in Da Nang have expressed their anger at the rumored plan.

However, municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho recently said that there has yet to be any official ruling regarding a potential Son Tra Mountain cable car.

“I can confirm that the Da Nang leaders have never discussed building a cable car system,” he said at a recent meeting with relevant local agencies.

“The city’s administration has also tasked no developer or investor with studying the feasibility of such a project.”

The Son Tra Peninsula is surrounded by an arc of beaches popular with tourists such as Tien Sa, Da Den, Bai But and Bai Rang.

A group of red-shanked douc langurs on the Son Tra Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Truong Sinh

Visitors to the peninsula also have the chance to admire the gorgeous red-shanked douc langur, which boasts a distinctive coat of 5 different colours and is considered the ‘queen’ of the primate world.

According to experts, the proud primate is native to the Indochina region, but these days can only be observed in their natural habitat in Son Tra.

The Ban Co Peak, which is 696 meters above sea level, is accessible via several trails from the ground, or a concrete road where visitors can easily scale the mountain via motorbikes or cars.

Tourists take a group photo next to the "God playing chess" statue on the Ban Co Peak. Photo: Tuoi Tre

“The city’s view is that Son Tra is a precious treasure that nature has given to Da Nang, so these green lungs need to be protected,” Chairman Tho said.

“The city will be particularly careful and prudent when considering anything relevant to the peninsula, with the ultimate goal to ensure the mutual interests of residents.”

(Source: Tuoitrenews/ Da Nang Today)