Da Nang’s Son Tra Peninsula is dubbed a ‘green pearl’ in the heart of the city. It is emerging as one of the city’s most inviting attractions thanks to its rich biodiversity, with a wide range of rare animal and plant species.

A rest stop at the base of the Ban Co (Chessboard) Peak

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to the peninsula. In particular, tourist arrivals to this site has risen from 160,000 in 2010 to 2.49 million in 2018. 

However, the travelling and sightseeing of both locals and visitors on this site are still risky.

According to preliminary figures released by the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, since early 2019, a total of 15 serious traffic accidents have been reported on the peninsula, claiming 5 lives. Besides, there have been some cases of getting lost in a forest on the peninsula.

In order to reduce the number of traffic accidents there, numerous road signs have been installed at several spots to warn people about dangerous stretches on the roads leading to the peninsula, especially banning visitors from riding scooters to this site in order to avoid unexpected accidents. Besides, speed humps and convex mirrors have been placed to minimise incidents.

Apart from potential risks of traffic accidents, the Son Tra Peninsula has been facing high risks of fire due to visitors’ irresponsible behavior in throwing cigarettes.

“In addition, freely travelling, cooking dishes and using fire during overnight camping trips on the peninsula by visitors are also reasons for recent forest fires”, Mr Tran Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cum Head of the Forest Protection Department, noted.

Motorcyclists are advised to be extra careful whilst riding their vehicles to the peninsula, especially when going up and down slopes

The Chairman of the municipal Travel Association, Mr Cao Tri Dung, highlighted the importance of developing a specific management system for the Son Tra Peninsula in a bid to develop the site into a more inviting and safer destination for both locals and visitors.

He suggested that the city should sell admission tickets to the peninsula, including basic, special and adventure tickets for specialised areas.

Mr Dung proposed that the city should ban visitors from going to potential risk areas on the Son Tra Peninsula, as well as develop a general solution about managing the peninsula for the future.

Mrs Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Deputy Director of the municipal Tourism Department, said her agency would arrange some employees to be on duty at several spots during office hours in order to remind motorcyclists to be extra careful whilst riding their vehicles to the peninsula, especially when going up and down slopes.

Mr Bui Van Tieng, the Chairman of the city's Historical Science Association, underlined the significance of recommending both domestic and foreign tourists to be cautious when travelling to the Son Tra Peninsula by motorbikes. In the long term, importance should be attached to using professional transportation vehicles instead of private ones to ensure the safety of visitors.