The Da Nang Department of Tourism has released that South Korea has surpassed China to become the major source of visitors to the city over recent years.

A group of South Korean visitors in Da Nang

Many South Korean nationals have decided to live and work in Da Nang because the city boasts the civilised, friendly and healthy tourism environment.

Amid the coronavirus fears, South Korean citizens have still felt secure and safe while staying in the city.

37-year-old Kim Won Hoon who has lived in Da Nang for one year is a typical example.

He is now working for the Vietnam Chilli Tour Co., Ltd, headquartered on Chinh Huu Street in Son Tra District. His company is offering necessary support for international tourist arrivals in the city, including arrivals from South Korea.

Mr Kim Won Hoon said that the majority of South Korean travellers choose Da Nang to visit because of the beautiful natural settings and preferential policies for foreigners, along with the friendliness and kindness of local people.

The male native of South Korea highlighted the great efforts of the municipal government in the fight against COVID-19 epidemic.

“The city has exerted every effort to ensure enough supplies of face masks and alcohol-based hand sanitiser for local residents and visitor arrivals. The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has regularly given updates on the epidemic situation, and coronavirus infection prevention and control guidance through its text messages sending to my cell phone”, Mr Kim said.

He remarked that he felt very secure when staying in Da Nang amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. He hoped that the Vietnamese government would join forces with his country’s government to help stop the spread of the virus.

Another South Korean man is Kim Jun Hoo, 27, who has also lived in Da Nang for one year. He is now a manager of the Veteran Korea Restaurant located on Duong Dinh Nghe Street in Son Tra District.

The man said that his restaurant had frequently been packed with international tourists, especially those from South Korea and China. However, in recent weeks, the restaurant has seen a significant drop in the number of foreign dinners due to the impact of the coronavirus.

The restaurant manager said he and his staff have made every effort to ensure food safety and hygiene, and enhance the quality of their services, in a bid to attract more foreign dinners to his restaurant.

Mr Kim Won Hoon (standing) has lived and worked in Da Nang for over one year.

Having been in Da Nang for 4 years, Lee Seong Jin residing in Son Tra District’s An Hai Bac Ward has always considered Da Nang as his second home.

He said the beauty of the city, especially the honesty and friendliness of the local inhabitants left a deep impression on him when he made his first visit to Da Nang with his friends, and this motivated him to stay longer.

Jin said “I very like to live in Da Nang because the local people are very friendly and hospitable”.

He highly lauded the city authorities for their great efforts in controlling and preventing the spread of the deadly virus into the city.

He added he and his co-workers stayed healthy by washing their hands often, and avoided crowded places, in order to reduce the spread of infections.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Lee Jin Hong has lived in Da Nang for 2.5 years. He said some of his friends have returned home in South Korea, but my family still decided to stay here.

He noted Da Nang residents have taken proactive measures to prevent the coronavirus infections. Most of them usually wear face masks and bring alcohol-based hand sanitiser with them.

Mr Lee expressed his happiness at knowing that all 16 coronavirus patients in Viet Nam have fully recovered from the infection, and have been discharged from hospital. He hoped Viet Nam would continue its efforts in the fight against Covid-19, and the virus will be contained soon.

Mr Seth Withworth, 35, from Australia who is currently an English teacher in Da Nang highly applauded the city authorities for their efforts in putting in isolation for a group of air passengers arrivals to Da Nang on 24 February from South Korea's Daegu City to check for signs of coronavirus.

The Da Nang authorities have arranged a Vietjet-operated flight to help 24 South Korean nationals return home as per their expectations.

Mr Seth Withworth said he was especially impressed with the apology letter written by municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho sending to the South Koreans who flew back home on his city government- arranged flight. In his letter written in both Vietnamese and Korean languages, Chairman Tho explained that Da Nang was imposing isolation or quarantine for suspected cases to ensure safety for visitors and the community amid fears over the spread of the new coronavirus. The city leader expressed his hope to welcome the visitors at a more convenient time.

“This is an act of showing the friendliness of Vietnamese people” the English teacher noted.

By XUAN SON, SONG KHUE - Translated by MAI DUNG