On October 17, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang held a workshop titled “Orientation for Da Nang tourism development in the new period.”

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Trung Luong, a member of the National Tourism Advisory Board, stated that following the recent administrative merger, Da Nang has a major opportunity to reposition itself and make a significant breakthrough.

W-z7126556577152_eda175a7e395460d171c65924e97c1a0.jpg

Dr. Pham Trung Luong speaks at the workshop

“First, we must redefine Da Nang’s new status, aligning it with the stature of a regional center,” he said. “From there, tourism development goals and strategies should be repositioned to aim beyond the national level, targeting regional and global scales.”

According to Dr. Luong, Da Nang needs to restructure its tourism products to emphasize creativity, uniqueness, and distinct value, while also rebranding its destination image.

“Previously, Da Nang was known as a vibrant and innovative events hub in the region, while Quang Nam focused on heritage and green tourism,” he noted. “Now that they are merged, how can both values be integrated into a unified strategy?”

From a planning perspective, he proposed that Da Nang develop tourism spaces with key focuses: urban tourism spaces for events, MICE, and riverside experiences; coastal tourism spaces stretching hundreds of kilometers, emphasizing resort, sports, cruise, and marine ecotourism; cultural tourism spaces leveraging heritage, craft villages, festivals, and community experiences; and ecological tourism spaces linked to national parks and reserves for sustainable development.

He emphasized: “Tourism is not just a service industry but an integrated economic sector that must deliver value to both businesses and local communities. It must incorporate the nighttime economy, creative industries, island and marine tourism, and experiential agriculture.”

Dr. Luong also called for stronger regional connections, especially with Hue City, Quang Tri, and even the Central Highlands, to form an open, interconnected tourism ecosystem that amplifies development impacts.

“The goal is to make Da Nang a leading destination that pioneers sustainable tourism development and guides the entire region,” he stated.

W-z7126514620088_cf04035e7894393ab0a73e00f3991bd8.jpg

Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, echoed that Da Nang plays a key economic and tourism role in central Vietnam. With its strategic position linking world heritage sites and its modern infrastructure - airports, seaports, accommodation, and entertainment - the city holds vast potential.

After the administrative merger, Da Nang's development space and resources have expanded, allowing it to become a leading tourism center in Vietnam. He urged the city to implement breakthrough measures, affirm its status as a national growth driver, and position itself as a key gateway for both domestic and international visitors.

Director Khanh encouraged Da Nang to strengthen inter-regional tourism product linkages with Hue and Quang Tri and develop heritage tours combined with nature exploration.

He emphasized boosting the nighttime economy with well-planned, safe night markets and food zones to increase tourist spending. Additionally, Da Nang should attract strategic investors to develop premium coastal tourism and resorts that cater to high-spending visitors.

He also advised the city to accelerate digital transformation, promote branding on digital platforms, standardize the workforce, and build internationally certified management teams.

According to him, MICE tourism and the nighttime economy will be strategic pillars for Da Nang. He recommended investing in a world-class conference and exhibition center, paired with incentives to attract large regional and global events, capitalizing on Da Nang's proven track record in hosting major international events.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that tourism in Da Nang continues to grow robustly and remains a highlight of the city’s economic development.

In the first nine months of 2025, the total number of overnight visitors in Da Nang reached approximately 14.4 million, up over 22% compared to the same period in 2024. Among them, international visitors totaled over 5.8 million, while domestic travelers reached nearly 8.6 million. Total revenue from accommodation, food services, and travel was estimated at nearly 41 trillion VND (around 1.66 billion USD), an increase of more than 25% year-over-year.

Da Nang has identified two core tourism zones:

A luxury resort and entertainment tourism zone that meets green standards, located along the coastline, in the Son Tra Peninsula, Cham Islands, Hon Son Tra, Hai Van area, and along the Han and Co Co Rivers and western mountainous areas.

A cultural and historical tourism zone focused on preserving and enhancing heritage sites in Hoi An and My Son, craft villages along the Thu Bon River, the spiritual tourism area of Ngu Hanh Son, Linh Ung Pagoda, and the museum and historical site system in western Da Nang.

In parallel, Da Nang is implementing key projects such as a free trade zone, an international financial center, repurposing Tien Sa Port into a cruise port, developing a metro line, and completing a river tourism route.

Ho Giap