"Da Nang truly deserves its reputation as a livable city," or "Da Nang is a civilized and peaceful city," are the words Mrs. Dinh Thuy Kieu who is a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City used to talk about her recent trip to the Han Riverside City. It's no coincidence that she fondly uses adjectives like livable, civilized, and peaceful when talking about Da Nang.

Da Nang's young people experiencing the public bicycle service launched by the city since March 2023. Photo: L.P.

A memorable trip

In early July 2023, Mrs. Kieu and her husband chose Da Nang as their honeymoon destination, aligning their visit with the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF). This trip marked their first time in Da Nang and their presence at such an international event, an experience they eagerly anticipated. They spent the final evening of the festival among the throngs of spectators along the Han River, absorbing the vibrant atmosphere.

Mrs. Kieu remarked on the crowd's demeanor: "Despite the dense gathering, the usual pushing and shoving were conspicuously absent, which was quite astonishing to us."

However, post-festival excitement turned to concern when Mrs. Kieu noticed her bag was missing. After regaining composure, she suspected she might leave it at a viewing stand. She promptly asked staff of the hotel where she and her husband were staying to post information about her lost item on social media platforms.

To her relief, the next day brough good news from the hotel’s receptionist that a sanitation worker had found her lost bag while cleaning the viewing site, and handed it to the Thuan Phuoc Ward Police in Hai Chau District to return it to its owner.

After verifying her details, Kieu was reunited with her bag, containing her phone, cash, and personal papers.

"I'm incredibly relieved to have found my lost property in a strange city. Everyone, from the sanitation workers, hotel staff to the police officers, were very helpful and supportive during my ordeal. I'm truly thankful for their assistance and look forward to visiting Da Nang again," Mrs. Kieu expressed gratefully.

In a move to support tourists, starting from March 2023, Son Tra and Hai Chau districts have resumed an initiative where restaurant, hotel, business and service establishments have volunteered to open their toilet facilities to all anyone in need, without demanding a purchase or charging a fee. Tourists can only find establishments with a logo of a blue smiley face ‘Free restroom’ with the message ‘Comfort as home’ when they need to answer the call of nature. Till date, over 250 establishments across the two districts have installed the logo ‘Comfort as home’ at a convenient location for local residents and tourists to easily see and freely use the restroom.

Under the "Building a Cultural and Civilized Urban Lifestyle" and the "All People Unite to Build a Cultural Life" programs, authorities at local level and relevant agencies are intensifying their efforts to take enforcement actions for violations of the city’s regulations related to usage of sidewalks, advertising, traffic, and environment, or violations found at tourist attractions, entertainment venues, shopping streets, along with eating and drinking establishments. Furthermore, heed is paid to conducting regular inspections, and launching awareness-raising campaigns in a bid to stop disguised begging, illegal street vending, and harassment of tourists. Importance is attached to enforcing penalties for violations of price gouging and and food safety. Concurrently, initiatives are being implemented to support tourists to ensure their safety during their stay in the city, contributing to ensuring the city's aesthetic appeal, and building a safe and friendly tourism environment.

A peaceful and civilized city

Over the past 3 years, Da Nang has seen remarkable results from the implementation of the ‘5 No’s, 3 Yes’s’ and ‘City of 4 Safe’ programmes in line with the Directive No. 43 issued by the Da Nang Party Committee on Urban Culture and Civilization, making the city very different from other Vietnamese localities. The city authorities have continued their efforts to reach the targets of no starving households, no illiterate people, no itinerant beggars, no drug-addicts in the community, and no murders for property in the city.  In addition, they have aimed to ensure that all local residents have their own houses, a stable job and a cultural lifestyle.

The ‘City of 4 Safe’ programme has also recorded outstanding achievements.

The past three years have seen a significant decrease in the number of traffic accidents, and public order offences which have sparked deep concern amongst the general public, including thieves, fraudulent appropriation of property and commercial frauds, in the city.

Besides, food safety and hygiene in the city have been ensured, whilst social welfare programmes have been carried out in a more effective manner.

Furthermore, the city’s police have worked with relevant agencies to take enforcement actions to prevent crime from taking place and discourage criminals.

The police have taken effective measures to to reduce criminal cases by 5% annually thanks to their efforts in launching awareness raising campaigns to increase public awareness on crime prevention.

To preserve the city’s image of having 'No wandering beggars', authorities at all levels are intensifying inspections to stop fake begging on the streets, particularly during public holidays and Lunar New Year. Focus is on sending these people to centres for social protection, as well as identify their backgrounds to facilitate their return to families and their local communities for rehabilitation and management. The Group 550, dedicated to addressing street begging, operates round-the-clock, collaborating with relevant agencies to conduct patrols on the city’s main streets and areas to detect wandering beggars.

The city’s functional units have received 1,093 hotline calls to report about beggars, with 251 individuals persuaded to return to their hometowns and 390 others sent to centres for social protection and mental health facilities. Additionally, 311 individuals have been reunited with their families after undergoing rehabilitation. The city has also provided help for those capable of working by providing access to finanical and livelihood support, and vocational training, thereby helping them find a suitable job, and stabilize their lives. These measures are crucial in ensuring the effective implementation of the ‘City of 4 Safe’ program.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by HOAI TRANG