Brian Jeffrey
Da Nang has witnessed nearly a 35% surge in foreign tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This robust growth showcases the city’s enduring charm among global travelers, prompting an exploration of the factors driving this impressive increase in tourism.
According to the Da Nang Statistical Office, the city greeted around 2.5 million international visitors from January to July 2024, marking a 34.7% upsurge from the corresponding period in 2023. This surge has brought Da Nang close to its yearly target of 8.42 million visitors, with estimates suggesting that the city could reach up to 3.5 million international tourists by year-end, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Events and Attractions Fueling Growth
Various factors contribute to this growth, with Da Nang’s distinct mix of natural beauty, cultural festivities, and top-tier attractions playing pivotal roles.
The city’s tourism boom has been driven in part by a series of prominent events aimed at attracting both local and foreign visitors. The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2024 (DIFF), held from June 8th to July 13th, notably boosted tourism during its duration.
Moreover, Da Nang’s enduring allure is reinforced by sites like Sun World Ba Na Hills, which remains a prime draw for international tourists. Data indicates that out of every 10 international visitors to Da Nang, seven venture to Ba Na Hills.
Sun World Ba Na Hills captivates international travelers with its ability to cater to diverse preferences, making it a must-visit locale for tourists from various nations.
For travelers from countries with hot climates year-round, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, Ba Na Hills is renowned as a temperate haven where visitors can relish cool weather throughout the year. The number of Indian tourists visiting Sun World Ba Na Hills reached 132,000 by the end of July 2024, constituting nearly 50% of all Indian tourists to Vietnam in the initial seven months of the year.
Popular Among International Visitors
Moreover, Indian visitors can indulge in authentic Indian cuisine at the site, as it features a buffet eatery serving Halal food to cater specifically to their dietary choices.
For South Korean tourists, who now form the largest international tourist market in Vietnam, Sun World Ba Na Hills holds particular appeal. The attraction resonates with South Korean visitors who admire the European-style architecture and highly Instagrammable locations.
As per South Korea’s Financial Times, one in three tourists at Sun World Ba Na Hills is South Korean.
Yong Sung Ok, Southeast Asia regional manager at Hanatour, one of South Korea’s premier travel firms, mentioned that Koreans appreciate mountains and cable cars. He noted his enjoyment of cable car rides, emphasizing the allure of viewing beautiful scenery from above.
For many tourists globally, the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hills stands out as a dream destination. Visitors from Europe and America often travel long distances just to capture a photo at this iconic structure, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the world’s top 100 places. The bridge continues to maintain its global popularity, recently spotlighted by Travel+Leisure as a prime spot for photography in Da Nang.
On Instagram, the hashtag #goldenbridge has amassed 159,000 posts, illustrating the bridge’s worldwide appeal.
Continuous Renovation and Attractions
Frequent visitors to Sun World Ba Na Hills often express how the site consistently reinvents itself. “What I love about Ba Na Hills is that each visit offers something new. That’s why whenever I’m in Da Nang, I choose to return to Ba Na and never tire of it,” said Lee Seo Joon, a Korean tourist.
Ba Na Hills is renowned not only for its iconic features like the Golden Bridge, French Village, and Helios Waterfall but also for its year-round festive ambiance, complete with world-class shows. Rather than spending a fortune on exclusive performances, visitors can relish international-standard shows throughout the day with just a cable car ticket.
This summer, Ba Na Hills offers a range of mini-shows by international artists, including a skating spectacle at the central church square and the Beer King game as a part of the B’estival festival. A special show named Fairy Blossom, incorporating 12 art forms and involving hundreds of international artists, occurs daily (except Tuesdays) at Noel Plaza square.
The festive feel at Ba Na Hills is further heightened by the availability of delightful German beers, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in an Oktoberfest-like atmosphere without traveling to Germany. Notably, Sun World Ba Na Hills has introduced Vietnam’s highest craft beer brewery at 1,487 meters above sea level – a project ten years in the making. The Sun Kraft Beer brand offers freshly brewed beer with carefully selected ingredients from Germany, New Zealand, and the United States, ensuring each batch embodies an authentic and delectable taste.
As night descends, Ba Na Hills continues to enchant visitors with captivating attractions. Guests can engage in a fire dance show, participate in a campfire led by South American artists, or revel in a night of dance with glamorous Thai transgender beauty queens at the Cabaret Plus costume show. For a more serene experience, visitors can opt to stay overnight at the Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills, enjoying leisurely strolls along charming streets under a starry sky.
Continued Innovation and Appeal
With its unique amalgamation of natural beauty, cultural richness, and innovative attractions, it is no surprise that Da Nang continues to witness an influx of international tourists. Sun World Ba Na Hills, in particular, emerges as a key attraction for foreign visitors, providing experiences that are unparalleled elsewhere in the world. As Da Nang persists in evolving and broadening its offerings, the city is well-positioned to uphold its status as one of Vietnam’s premier tourist destinations.
