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Da Nang Welcomes APEC 2017

By night, the Han River is resplendent with glittering lights. The clock counting down the hours until the opening day of APEC 2017 Summit Week at the head of the Han River bridge flares up with numerals moving down gradually one by one. The APEC attraction seems to spread vigorously in each breath of the beautiful coastal city. And Da Nang residents are talking more and more about APEC with a longing mood as more than anyone else, they understand that the whole world is watching their city.
APEC City by the Han River

Never before have Da Nang residents experienced such an exciting mood as at present. For them, APEC 2017 Summit Week will be the biggest event organised so far.

Sitting next to me in a small inn by the windy Han River is Tu Minh, an old fisherman from Son Tra peninsula. Sipping a cup of green tea while watching the electric clock glittering at the head of the Han River bridge in welcome of APEC, he suddenly asked me, “Hey, young man! What is APEC? Why does it make people discuss it so eagerly these days?” I could not help laughing at the old man’s frank and heartfelt question in a voice with a heavy local accent.

Ariyana Danang Exhibition & Convention Centre (ADECC). Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Along Non Nuoc beach, there are many luxury resorts and hotels such as Furama, Fusion Maia and Melia.
Photo: Tat Son/VNP
Panoramic view of Melia Da Nang Resort. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
Furama Da Nang Resort is a collection of spacious villas with a private pool and many luxurious
facilities and services. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP

I don’t know whether he understood what I had explained to him, but he seems to be very proud that on that occasion his native coastal city will welcome many APEC Economic leaders with thousands of foreign officials and journalists coming to discuss the big issues of the world.

It is right for him to take such pride as he has never in his whole life witnessed such a big event. How could he not take pride as Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick once said: “The whole world will concentrate its attention on Da Nang in November when leaders, ministers and CEOs from 21 APEC economies rally in this city”.

The event is expected to welcome leaders from 21 member economies as well as nearly 4,000 foreign and local reporters.

Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.
For Da Nang to be as it is now, the city has tirelessly strived for several decades, surmounting untold difficulties and hardships. Da Nang has created a wonderful place by the Han River with such titles not yet obtained by other cities in the world as “Thanh pho dang song” (the city worth living), “Thanh pho moi truong” (the environmental city), “Thanh pho phong canh Chau A” (the city of Asian style), “Thanh pho to chuc su kien va le hoi” (the city of events and festivals) and now “Thanh pho APEC” (the APEC city).

In preparation for APEC 2017 Summit Week, Da Nang has prepared human resources and the infrastructure as well as organising programs and events. The city has built many modern structures, such as roads, international airport terminals, an international press centre, hotels, and convention centres. Each bears the imprints of talent, total devotion and the feelings of Da Nang residents.

Taking us to visit many places that were prepared for the APEC Summit Week, Truong Ngoc Thanh, the communications official of well-known Furama resort proudly revealed that this will be the venue for about 80% of the big events of APEC 2017 Summit Week. In addition to the existing establishments, Furama has invested in building a new convention centre and Ariyana Da Nang Exhibition Centre (ADECC) with 2,500 seats.  This is where the summit conference of APEC enterprisers will be held with the participation of high-ranking leaders of 21 member economies. There are also more than 100 luxurious and elegant villas for senior officials.

 

Forbes votes My Khe beach in Da Nang as one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet.
My Khe Beach is located about 6km east of Da Nang and about 24km north of Hoi An.
Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Tourists relaxing on Bien Dong beach. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP
A rooftop cafe in Da Nang. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP
The two banks of the Han River is brilliant by night. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP


The Da Nang International Fireworks Competition is held every two years on the Vietnam National Day in Da Nang.
Photo: Tran Le Lam
Tourists visit the village built in the French architectural style by Sun Group on Ba Na Hill. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP



Ba Na Hills Golf Club designed by world-famous gold player Luke Donald wins the World’s Best Course
Golf title. Photo: Sun Group’s file

For Da Nang to be as it is now, the people have tirelessly worked for several decades, surmounting untold difficulties and hardships. Da Nang has created a wonderful place by the Han River and is called “Thanh pho dang song” (the city worth living in).
I also know that Thanh, like many other Da Nang residents, are counting down the hours until the opening day of APEC Summit Week with a full heart because that will be a glorious moment for Da Nang citizens.

City Linking Regions of Heritages

Da Nang is known to foreign friends as a tourist paradise with My Khe beach once selected by Forbes as one of six most seductive beaches on the planet. There is also the Son Tra peninsula with green primitive forests, the extremely beautiful and holy Ngu Hanh Son, Ba Na Hills resort, a well-known tourist location over 20km from Da Nang to the southwest and over 1,400m above the sea level. There are the coastal resorts such as the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort, Furama Da Nang Resort, Pullman Da Nang Beach Resort and the Hyatt Regency Da Nang Resort and Spa. Perhaps, because of these places, Da Nang has time and again been selected as a first-class city by tourist magazines and organisations.

In 2015, Da Nang was ranked among the 10 most attractive tourist destinations with the lowest costs in the world by Skyscanner, the primary world tourism website headquartered in Great Britain. Also, according to Skyscanner, visitors to Da Nang should not ignore their chance to explore My Khe beach and taste delicious Vietnamese seafood dishes in coastal restaurants.



The tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh in Hue (about 100km south of Da Nang), is a UNESCO World Heritage. Photo: VNP’s file
My Son Sanctuary, about 70km from Da Nang, was also a political centre and a royal burial ground.
The complex consists of more than 70 structures devoted to Hindu gods and goddesses.
The most noticeable one, Shiva, was considered the protector of the Champa’s kings. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP
Da Nang benefits from the world heritage sites in neighbouring areas, including Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Photo: Tat Son/VNP
From Da Nang, tourists can visit Hoi An, a world heritage site. Photo: VNP’s file

Da Nang city was honoured as “Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination” at the World Travel Awards Asia (WTA) & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2016.
In 2016, at the Asia- Oceana World Travel Awards presentation, Da Nang exceeded eight first-ranked Asian destinations to be honoured as “Asia’s leading Festival and Event Destination”.

There is rarely any tourist city with so many advantages as Da Nang. In addition to the advantages endowed by nature, Da Nang has greatly benefited from UNESCO- recognised world heritages nearby. Located south of Da Nang some 20km is ancient Hoi An full of good memories and there is the mysterious Holy Land of My Son more than 1,000 years old. To the north about 100km lies the imperial city of Hue. There are other important and scenic places surrounding Da Nang such as Cu Lao Cham, Cua Dai port (Quang Nam province), Hai Van mountain pass, Bach Ma mountain, Lang Co and Tam Giang lagoons (Thua Thien-Hue province). Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park has a system of the most magnificent caves and grottos in the world.

Going to Da Nang, visitors will have a chance not only to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere at the beautiful coastal city but also to discover cultural and natural heritages. That is truly a rare experience which visitors cannot easily find in other tourist cities in the world.

For such reasons, APEC 2017 Summit Week this November will be a great opportunity for Da Nang to display to the world its potential as an important central gateway for tourism and investment. That is also the dream spurring Da Nang to advance forward, becoming worthy as a primary tourist city in the world.
Story: Thanh Hoa  Photos: Tat Son, Cong Dat, Tran Le Lam & Files

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