Defining cultural identity and developing the cultural industry.

The consecutive appearance of international-scale events shows that Da Nang is aiming to build a creative economy rooted in culture and operating year-round.

Báo Đà Nẵng•03/06/2026

Hoi An has become a meeting point for international artists thanks to the International Choral Festival. Photo: Dang Ke Dong

In recent years, Da Nang has positioned itself as a locality with a diverse cultural event ecosystem. Besides the annual Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF), activities such as the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF), music festivals, street art, live performance shows, and art exhibitions play a significant role in the city's cultural industry development.

Unlocking from Identity

On March 18th, the Standing Committee of the Da Nang City Party Committee issued an Action Program to implement Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture. In this program, Da Nang identifies the goal of building culture into the spiritual foundation of society, an endogenous resource and an important driving force for rapid and sustainable development.

To ensure double-digit growth targets are met in 2026, the city is focusing on upgrading Da Nang International Airport; transforming Tien Sa Port into a specialized tourist port; and completing inter-regional road and rail connections to Hoi An, Tam Ky, Chu Lai, and international border gates. In addition, Da Nang will soon commence key projects such as the Ngu Hanh Son Historical and Cultural Park and the International Fireworks Complex to create new momentum for the destination.

Furthermore, aiming to become an attractive destination for the region and the world, Da Nang has identified tourism development based on its cultural and historical heritage and the unique identity of Quang Nam province. The city focuses on developing distinctive tourism products such as heritage tourism associated with Hoi An, My Son, and the Marble Mountains; high-end beach resorts combined with water sports, yachting, golf, and wellness; and promoting MICE tourism, festivals, and events. In addition, Da Nang prioritizes the development of its night-time economy, expanding market promotion, and gradually positioning itself as a multi-experience cultural and heritage destination.

Da Nang's greatest potential, besides its rich ecosystem of events, festivals, and the unique cultural heritage of Quang Nam province, lies in its internal strength for the robust development of the cultural industry. From the ancient town of Hoi An, the My Son temple complex, the Central Vietnamese Bài Chòi folk art, Hoi An lantern making, Thanh Ha pottery, Kim Bong carpentry, Ma Chau weaving, to the coastal villages, the Thu Bon riverine culture, and the Co Tu culture of the western mountainous region... all provide the raw materials for creative industries.

Hoi An has become a meeting point for international artists thanks to the International Choral Festival. Photo: Dang Ke Dong

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong from the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism once shared that, in order to fully exploit the city's advantages, Da Nang should operate its cultural industry as an integrated ecosystem, from the creative value chain, heritage inspiration, design, crafting, production, communication to cultural consumption; and at each stage, the city has its own competitive advantage.

It can be seen that in recent years, many creative spaces have continuously emerged and operated effectively, such as Oul Soul Da Nang Art Hub, 9Blocks Creative, Da Nang Tui… Several potential cultural industries such as fine arts, photography, exhibitions, and film are making a strong mark. In particular, cultural tourism is considered a key economic sector contributing significantly to the city's impressive growth rate.

Cultural brand

Along with DIFF 2026, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival is beginning to create a significant impact. More than just a place for cinematic exchange, the festival is gradually transforming Da Nang into a destination for domestic and international filmmakers. This is also an opportunity for the city to realize its goal of building Da Nang into one of the three major film centers of Vietnam, developing film studios, post-production centers, and supporting film production services.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau, a researcher in urban culture, argues that alongside heritage preservation, transforming heritage into economically valuable cultural products is essential. Accordingly, heritage is not just about buildings or artifacts preserved in museums. Heritage also encompasses stories, memories, lifestyles, folk knowledge, and community identity. When these values are retold through film, design, performing arts, experiential tourism, or digital technology, they become resources for the cultural industry.

The annual Da Nang International Fireworks Festival has become a visual icon, contributing to building Da Nang's brand as a creative city. Photo: LAM VIEN

Cultural experts believe that if DIFF tells the story of a young and integrated city, Da Nang can certainly tell additional stories about the Hoi An trading port, the maritime ceramics route, Champa culture, the memories of the Thu Bon River, or the lives of coastal residents through modern and creative products.

A notable aspect of the city's cultural industry development strategy is the branding of distinctive cultural products, ranging from festivals and creative experiential tourism to nighttime cultural spaces and creative streets. According to experts, this is a necessary step because ultimately, the cultural industry is all about branding.

South Korea has the Hallyu wave, Japan has anime, France has art weeks, and Singapore stands out with its festival city model. Da Nang also needs its own unique ecosystem based on values that are unlike anywhere else.

The vitality of Quang Nam's culture lies in its spirit of openness, trade, and adaptation. From the 17th-century trading port of Hoi An to the coastal city of Da Nang today, both regions possess the characteristics of integration while still preserving their unique identity. This is the very material for creating cultural industrial products with their own distinct mark.

If fireworks create visual symbols for the city, and cinema tells stories about people and land, then the heritage system of Quang Nam province will be the soul that makes Da Nang stand out in the competition among creative cities. From the gradually emerging art spaces, it can be seen that Da Nang has begun a journey of transforming cultural resources into development resources, creating a creative economy from the cultural industry.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/dinh-vi-ban-sac-phat-trien-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-3339144.html