Golden Bridge in Da Nang.

Nestled between popular tourist hot spots Hoi An and Hue, Australian newspaper said that it’s been easy to overlook the central coast city of Da Nang – but not any more.

The opening of the mesmerizing Golden Bridge (an elevated mountain platform cradled by giant stone hands) last year has put Da Nang firmly on the tourist trail and Wotif.com managing director Daniel Finch predicts it will become one of the country’s real hot spots next year.

“In the last three years we’ve already seen huge growth for Da Nang with demand up over 65 per cent,” he says. “The city’s rich culture, unspoilt beaches, increasing development and long list of luxury resorts are sure to make Da Nang a must-visit in 2020 and beyond.

Daniel Finch believes the purpose-built tourism city of Cocobay, set to open next year, will soon rival the likes of Phuket and Balifor Aussies looking for a southeast Asian adventure. “The Cocobay hospitality precinct will include an opera house, sports arena, plus array of shops, restaurants and bars,” he says.

The twin towers of the Viceroy Da Nang Hotel, also scheduled to open next year, will make a dramatic entry statement for the precinct, in the same way the Petronas Twin Towers define the skyline of Kuala Lumpur.

Tokyo in Japan tops the list, followed by Siargao in Philippines, Tel Aviv in Israel, Utah in the US, Torres Strait in Queensland, Spain, Sicily in Italy, etc.

The number of visitors to Da Nang in the first quarter of 2019 is estimated at 1.8 million, with arrivals by air increasing 56.5% on-year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Da Nang aims to welcome 8.19 million visitors throughout 2019, up 6.9% year-on-year. the figure includes 3.19 million foreigners, an increase of 11%. The tourism sector aims to gross VND27.4 trillion (US$1.18 billion) in revenue, up 13.9% against the previous year. Hanoitimes

Ha Phuong