Green and indigenous choices are the foundation for Da Nang tourism

The new administrative boundaries of Da Nang have officially opened a promising era of development for the central coastal city. In that overall picture, tourism - as a key economic sector, needs to establish a new stature and orientation. That is green, sustainable tourism and cultural identity as the foundation throughout.

Tourists enjoy banh xeo. Photo: NGUYEN XUAN HA

A tourism ecosystem associated with nature conservation will have to be achieved. Green tourism is not only the destination of a civilized city, but also a journey to change the way of looking at tourism .

Rich resources

Over the years, Da Nang has built its brand as one of the leading tourist centers in Vietnam. The locality stands out with its long beaches, modern infrastructure, and the ability to organize international-scale events and conferences (MICE). The city has succeeded in attracting a large number of tourists, contributing significantly to local economic growth.

However, this development model often focuses on urban areas and large-scale tourism products, sometimes failing to fully exploit the cultural depth or ecotourism potential in suburban areas. Da Nang also faces challenges from climate change, competition for destinations with Thailand, Malaysia... or risks from overheating development with conflicts of interest between conservation and development, the risk of commercialization of heritage...

The merger of administrative boundaries and expansion of new development space not only increases the area but more importantly opens up a rich and unique treasure trove of resources.

The old Quang Nam land, now a large part of Da Nang, possesses a diverse ecosystem from forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls to hills and mountains, along with a rich history and culture with its own unique identity. These are traditional craft villages, revolutionary historical relics, folk festivals and a unique local cuisine - values that Da Nang previously did not have enough space to fully exploit.

Green tourism and identity - blending new and old values

This is a golden opportunity for Da Nang to shift from a "hot" growth model to a more "green" and "sustainable" development in a consistent manner.

Tourists are excited to experience tourism services in the ripe rice season of Hoi An. Photo: Phan Vu Trong

The integration of these new values not only helps diversify products, reduce pressure on central areas, but also creates sustainable livelihoods for local communities, while elevating Da Nang's tourism brand to a new position: a comprehensive and attractive destination with a harmonious combination of modernity and tradition.

The concept of “throughput” here does not stop at developing a few single green or cultural tourism products. It requires a comprehensive mindset shift - where green, sustainable and distinctive tourism becomes the core philosophy, the guiding principle for all activities from planning, investment, product development, to management, operation and promotion.

In the context of climate change and development pressure, green tourism is the optimal solution to protect precious natural values and turn environmental challenges into growth engines, taking advantage of the available resources that Da Nang possesses.

And with the participation of the community and the element of indigenous cultural heritage, tourism will no longer simply be about welcoming tourists but will become a journey of sharing, discovery and conservation. Rural - agricultural tourism, community tourism will contribute to creating livelihoods, preserving jobs, preserving land and preserving people.

Need comprehensive and suitable solutions

To turn this vision into reality, Da Nang needs to synchronously and drastically implement key solutions.

Hoi An has formed tours to take visitors to experience the ripe rice season - taking advantage of local resources to attract visitors. Photo: Phan Vu Trong

First of all, it is necessary to review and update the master plan for tourism in the new Da Nang city, in which green tourism and indigenous culture are identified as the main axes. At the same time, priority should be given to protecting green spaces and traditional cultural areas from excessive urbanization and commercialization.

Besides, innovation and diversification of tourism products are key factors. It is necessary to develop tourism products.

specific ecological tourism such as forest tourism, river tourism, farm tourism, along with the construction of cultural - historical tours that deeply exploit the value of ancient villages, craft villages, and relics. It is important to integrate green elements into all existing tourism products and encourage responsible tourism activities.

Capacity building and community awareness are indispensable solutions. Strengthening the training of tourism human resources with in-depth knowledge of local culture and environment is urgent.

It is necessary to develop responsible tourism education programs for the community, especially in rural and mountainous areas, so that people can actively participate in and benefit from sustainable tourism. By 2030, each tourism development region will have at least one product or destination that meets international standards for service quality, environment or cultural experience (according to GSTC, Green Destination standards or equivalent).

Finally, a city-wide coordination and linkage mechanism is essential. Consider establishing an expanded Da Nang City Tourism Development Council or equivalent mechanism to synchronize policies, allocate investment, connect products and share benefits across regions. This ensures a harmonious connection between existing and new potential tourism values, avoids overlap, unnecessary internal competition, and creates a unified tourism ecosystem.

Da Nang also needs to continue to promote cooperation with neighboring localities and participate deeply in international tourism networks to learn from experience and promote effectively.

Establishing green, sustainable tourism based on indigenous culture as a strategic and consistent foundation in planning, managing and organizing tourism products is not only a choice in line with the trend of the times but also a fundamental solution for Da Nang to develop steadily.

By building a diverse tourism ecosystem where modernity and traditional identity blend, Da Nang not only improves the quality of life of its people but also positions itself as a green tourism growth pole, rich in Vietnamese identity, ready to rise in the new era.

Green tourism criteria - new corridor for sustainable future

After administrative merger with Quang Nam, Da Nang not only shares landscape resources infrastructure but also needs to continue applying the old Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria. Mr. Van Ba Son - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it is necessary to consider this set of criteria as a foundation for developing and upgrading regional tourism.

According to Mr. Son, it is necessary to orient the upgrading of this set of criteria according to a 3-step roadmap, referring to global standards such as Green Key (international program on management and reduction of energy and resource consumption in hotels and accommodation facilities), GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council).

It is possible to supplement the missing elements and invite the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) or GSTC to evaluate the feasibility; when piloting in Da Nang in the period of 2026 - 2027, apply the test to 10 coastal hotels in Da Nang, issue the "Green Destination Da Nang" certificate with its own logo. At the same time, proceed to replicate nationwide in the period of 2028 - 2030, propose the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to recognize this set of criteria as a national standard.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/lua-chon-xanh-va-ban-dia-la-nen-tang-cho-du-lich-da-nang-3297985.html