Da Nang is endowed with many marvellous beaches.  Most notably, My Khe Beach was once voted one of the 6 most beautiful beaches in the world by the US Forbes Magazine.  Some of the local beaches can even compete with famous ones elsewhere in the world, including those in the USA’s Santa Ana, Australia’s New South Wales, and Thailand’s Phukhet and Pattaya.

View along the beach

Many of Da Nang’s residents have special emotional attachments to their beautiful local beaches.  Meritorious Artist Doan Huy Giao, who is a nationally-renowned poet and documentary film director, has a strong passion for the beauty of the Bai But Beach on the Son Tra Peninsula.  In 2011, he established his own Dong Dinh Museum, which is the first of its kind in the central region.

Nestled on the peninsula, the museum is a must-see for those interested in discovering ecological tourism and seeing wonderful works of art and valuable antiques.  The museum displays hundreds of items, dating back up to 2,500 years, which showcase the rich cultural heritages of the Sa Huynh, Champa, Oc Eo, Dong Son and Dai Viet civilisations.  Apart from these antiques, the owner has also collected items such as pieces of fishing net and other traditional fishing tools from along Man Thai and Tho Quang beaches.  One striking feature of this museum is its wonderful garden house, ideal for nature lovers.

Retired teacher Ton That Hiep and his family now live in the USA’s Oklahoma, but he and his wife return annually to Da Nang in order to indulge in the sky-blue seas and enjoy fresh seafood and authentic local cuisine.  The overseas Vietnamese couple usually go to the My Khe Beach at around 4.00am. 

Mr Hiep said he feels comfortable with the existing beach services there, including the convenient bathing areas, and the entertainment activities available at the nearby Holiday Beach Danang Hotel & Resort.  Also, the couple can enjoy the very delicious but affordable seafood dishes at nearby restaurants.  In particular, the beach is an attractive rendezvous for him to meet and chat with his old friends who still reside in the city.

During their stays in the city, the couple are very interested in capturing photos of the local beaches, the local fishermen catching fish, the bustling seafood restaurants, and the groups of young people doing physical exercise in the morning on the beach. 

Mr Hiep remarked that although the local beaches now feature a wide range of marine entertainment services along them, they still show off the special local cultural values and the clean and healthy environment.

With their special love for beaches, many local residents are constantly aware of the need to protect these ‘valuable gifts’ of the Earth’s natural resources.  For instance, a young woman recently asked a group of Chinese visitors not to walk on grass-covered areas along a coastal route. 

Some city leaders often go to the local beaches in order to hear constructive comments and opinions from local beachgoers about beach-related matters such as maritime and sanitation services, and the operation of sound and lighting systems at local beach tourism areas.  The aim is to make beaches even more attractive to locals and visitors.