Danang lays out new tourism vistas in 2010 plan

Danang will offer more than pretty landscapes and good facilities this year, seeking to widen its tourism base with options for the more adventurous visitor. This was announced at the “An tuong du lich Da Nang 2010” (Danang Tourism Impressions 2010) seminar organized in HCMC on Thursday.
Get up before dawn and join local fishermen as they set out to sea, dive to the bottom of the Son Tra Sea or take long walks into thick jungle – if you feel like it these activities can be part of your visit to Danang this year.
You can also enjoy the beautiful views at the Tam Thai pagoda which has a big garden with several kinds of wild flowers, waterfalls and small rivers, step into the newly-renovated royal palace of the Nguyen Dynasty or go on a night tour to the top of the Thuy Son Mountain is another suggestion.
These and many other attractions were highlighted at Thursday’s roadshow.
Nguyen Duy Quang, Vice Director of Danang Tourism Promotion Center, highlighted four destinations among many that the city has on offer for tourists – forest and sea tours in the Son Tra Peninsula; the Ba Na – Suoi Mo Ecological Tourism Center famous for having the world’s longest cable car; the Museum of Cham culture showcasing relics from the ancient sites of My Son and Dong Duong; and Ngu Hanh Son, a group of five mountains, which is believed as one of the most sacred places in the central region.
He said the city will offer both fixed and open ended tours this year.
Quang listed many of events that beckon visitors to city in March and early April.
Starting in mid March, a 15-day exhibition featuring a relic auction and Cham dance performances at the Museum of Cham Sculpture will set get tourism events going in the central city.
On March 21, the Vietnam Trade Village Festival 2010 hosted by the Investment and Development Magazine will open at the 29-3 Park. The 120 booths at the festival will showcase artifacts made by craftsmen from 76 trade villages all over the country. The festival will also host traditional games and concerts on the opening day.The festival will close on March 25.
An exhibition of XQ embroidery paintings will grace Bach Dang street from March 23 to 28 and the “Da Nang – Chang duong moi” (Danang – New stage of life) show featuring images of the city’s present and future will be held at the Danang Exhibition and Fair Center from March 25-29.
From March 21-26, the most anticipated cultural event, the Hai Chau Town Festival, is set to welcome thousands of foreigners and local visitors to enjoy several activities, including human chess, kylin and dragon dances, apart from traditional rituals. The two venues selected for the festival are Hai Chau Village’s Common House and the area in front of Trung Vuong Theatre.
The procession to carry God of Farming from a farm in Phong Le Village to his temple in the village is also a must-see for those visiting the city for the first time. The two-day festival, with some extra traditional games originating in the village, will start from March 25.
On March 26, a photo exhibition on the international fireworks festival held in the city in 2008 and 2009 will open. A refreshing activity for the afternoon is to watch people flying kites on the My Khe beach
A parade by 35 cars bedecked with flowers will cruise along some main streets of the city. The special event is hosted by the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.
The annual international firework festival this year will have a new theme: “Huyen thoai song Han” (Legend of Han River). The 2010 festival opening on March 27 will present the skills of pyrotechnic teams from the U.S, France, Japan, Spanish and Vietnam.
On the first day of the two-day festival, hundreds of garlands and colored lanterns will be floated on the Han River. This is a traditional custom which is believed to bring good health and luck to the people.
The Avalokiteśvara Festival 2010, which will take place from Apr 1 to 3 at the pagoda on the top of Thuy Son Mountain will bring in thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the country and abroad.
The festival this year will feature a contest for vegetarian cooks, a rock sculpting and sand sculpting contest, Masquerade ball, and traditional games.
By Truong Son