VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors are surprised when Da nang beach is introduced on websites of some local travel companies as “China Beach.” The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said that this is unacceptable mistake.

“I cannot understand why Vietnamese travel firms introduce Da nang beach. It can make overseas tourists to misunderstand that this is the beach of China,” said a visitor.

“China Beach” is used by many travel firms to call white sandy beaches in Da nang. On the website of the Hanoi-based Asia Eyes Travel, “China Beach” is introduced as the beach that spans from Da nang to Cua Dai in Hoi An town.

Another Hanoi-based company, ANZ Travel also has an article about “Da Nang – The China Beach,” which praises the beauty of Da nang’s southern beach, which is the most famous in Vietnam with long white sand banks and friendly people…

The website of a Da nang-based taxi company posts a long article about the My Khe beach, entitled “China beach in Da nang” and “Da Nang China beach.”



Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, director of the Da nang Tourism Promotion Center, said that previously, some maps in the world used “China Beach” to call the coast of central Vietnam. In 2011, Da nang authorities asked local agencies and organizations to not use the words “China Beach” in all websites and the mass media as geographic instruction about Da nang’s beach.

“We have checked and asked businesses to make correction if they use wrong information. However, this requirement is only effective in Da nang city. Many tourism websites in other provinces post wrong information but we cannot check and ask them to correct it,” Binh said.

The VNAT’s vice chief, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, said that it is unacceptable and harmful for the image of Da nang’s tourism when some Vietnamese travel firms introduce the beach of Da nang as “China Beach.”

“It is not the VNAT’s competence to deal with these websites but we take objection against these businesses,” Cuong said.

Compiled by Thu Ha