A corner of Da Nang city

Located between two famous destinations of the ancient imperial capital of Hue and the ancient port city of Hoi An, Da Nang used to be merely a transit point without any outstanding attractions. 

Deciding to make tourism a spearhead sector, the city has invested in infrastructure, adopted policies to attract investors and created its own events, such as the international fireworks festival and international sport tournaments. 

The efforts have paid off, with a three-fold increase in the number of visitors from 1.2 million in 2008 to 6.6 million in 2017 and a ten-fold rise in tourism revenues, from 2 trillion VND in 2008 to nearly 20 trillion VND last year. 

Chairman of Da Nang Tourism Association Huynh Tan Vinh noted that in the past decade, hotel rooms in the central city have increased 10 fold to over 28,800, with the arrival of big brands like InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Novotel, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, Vinpearl and Pullman.  

According to deputy director of the municipal Department of Tourism Tran Chi Cuong, the municipal People’s Committee is implementing a tourism development project this year with a total cost of 14.4 billion VND (629,582 USD).

The project aims to improve quality of services and develop various forms of tourism such as ecological tourism, village tourism and waterway tourism, he revealed.

Statistics from the municipal Department of Tourism showed that the number of visitors to the city grew at an annual average rate of 20.06 percent in 2013-2017. 

Over the past decade, the central coastal city has also made it into many top-ten lists in the world. 

Da Nang was named in the top 10 holiday places in Asia of the prestigious online tourism magazine Smart Travel Asia and top 10 fresh destinations of the global online accommodation reservation provider Agoda in 2013. 

The listing has enabled the city to reach out further to the world, according to Amir Ahmad Mohamad, general manager of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza Hotel Da Nang.

Da Nang International Airport was ranked third among the best airports in the world in 2014, according to a survey by Dragon Air.

The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort won the Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort in 2014 thanks to its perfect combination of traditional beauty and modern, luxurious standards.

The US’s Forbes Magazine selected My Khe Beach in Da Nang as one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet in 2013.

The cable line that takes visitors to the peak of Ba Na Hills at an altitude of 1,487 metres in just 17 minutes and is able to carry 3,000 passengers per hour won four Guinness Records in 2013.

The US’s New York Times listed Da Nang among 52 places to go in 2015. 

On the list of the world’s top 10 destinations for 2018 compiled by the online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb, Da Nang was ranked fifth in booking surges of up to 255 percent.

This year, the city was ranked the second most popular destination for solo or couple travellers, according to the Republic of Korea’s Ticket Monster Inc.

The website said people who plan to travel abroad with family members often chose Da Nang.

The RoK is expected to surpass Chinese tourists and become the biggest group of visitors to Da Nang in the near future.

According to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, Da Nang was said to be the best place to live in Viet Nam with many world-recognised records.