Fireworks lever

Seventeen years after its first international fireworks display, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is becoming increasingly attractive. The success of the Da Nang fireworks is not only due to the performances themselves, but also to the tourism and cultural ecosystem that has captivated visitors over its 12 editions.

DIFF 2025 is the largest fireworks festival in Vietnam in terms of the number of participating teams (10 teams) and the longest in duration (almost a month and a half with 6 nights of performances). Since the first international fireworks festival in 2008, the number of teams has increased, the number of competition nights has increased, and the performance scenarios have become more diverse.

International fireworks display bearing the brand of Da Nang City .

PHOTO: VAN MINH

To date, fireworks have become a distinctive symbol of Da Nang, and it is through fireworks that Da Nang city has transformed this festival into a springboard to elevate tourism to a new level.

Indeed, besides the fireworks, tourists return to the city on the Han River because of its diverse ecosystem of tourism products and services, and its many new and convenient experiences.

With the aim of maintaining its position as a "city of festivals and events," in recent years, Da Nang City has hosted at least one major, prominent event almost every month, serving as the main theme, with dozens of supporting activities to meet the diverse needs of tourists at all times of the year.

Right at the beginning of the year, the city launched Christmas and New Year celebrations, elevated cultural festivals during Tet (Lunar New Year), Food Tour programs, beach tourism season, golf tourism convention, Ironman 70.3, veneration of Buddha relics… and especially the highlight of the summer is DIFF 2025.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, from the beginning of the year until now, Da Nang's tourism industry, with its infrastructure of over 46,000 hotel rooms, 8,000 food and beverage establishments, 6,252 tour guides, 561 travel agencies, and 16 tourist attractions, has served more than 3.5 million overnight visitors, an increase of over 18.6% compared to the same period last year.

This includes over 1.7 million international visitors, a 43% increase compared to the same period last year. This result reflects the effectiveness of the marketing and market expansion strategy, and affirms Da Nang's growing attractiveness to international tourist markets.

A million-dollar wedding was held at the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort.

PHOTO: VAN MINH

Opening up the billion-dollar market.

A new feature of this summer's DIFF and the city's tourism industry in 2025 is the focus on attracting international markets, using DIFF as a leverage to open up "billion-dollar" opportunities with tourists from the Middle East, the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), and Muslim tourists.

Notably, the presence of Emirates, a leading global airline, opening a route from Dubai to Da Nang is a significant development.

In addition, from April to October, charter flights from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan bring approximately 10,000 passengers per month to Da Nang City, with more than 10 flights per week.

According to the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the DIFF (Da Nang International Fireworks Festival) as the main product during the summer tourist season, the presence of international tourists from the Middle East and Central Asia helps to expand the promotion of Da Nang as a destination, expanding the high-end tourist segment, especially from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar… with the middle and upper classes, who spend a lot on accommodation, high-end cuisine, shopping, relaxation and healthcare.

Tourists from Dubai visiting Da Nang City.

PHOTO: VAN MINH

"Although this source of tourists doesn't constitute the majority, it generates significant revenue thanks to their preference for privacy, high-end beach resorts, and flights to the Middle East and Central Asia. This allows Da Nang to directly connect with distant markets, creating a foundation for increasing frequency and expanding market share from these regions and Europe. This, in turn, attracts investment from the UAE, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia into Da Nang's tourism ecosystem, focusing on resort services, international schools, and tourism-related healthcare," said a leader from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Representatives from Sheraton Grand Danang Resort & Convention Center further confirmed that during the DIFF (Da Nang International Fireworks Festival), all 258 rooms and suites were fully booked. Among the guests, those from the Middle East and Central Asia, who favored entertainment activities and, in addition to watching fireworks, demanded high-end experiences, including discerning culinary tastes and family-friendly spa services.

In particular, over the past two years, the 250-meter infinity pool area and the 10-meter-high Grand Ballroom with a capacity of 1,000 guests have frequently become venues for large events such as million-dollar weddings for Indian clients, and expensive private parties, catering to the segment of clients who require grand and luxurious spaces. This demonstrates the potential for significant revenue generation from this high-end clientele.

Furthermore, according to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, attracting wealthy tourists from the Middle East and Central Asia also increases the operating capacity of service establishments, because the tourist season for this group does not directly compete with traditional markets such as South Korea, China, and Japan.

This helps Da Nang's tourism industry reduce peak season congestion by shifting focus away from other markets, decreasing seasonality, and increasing hotel occupancy and tour rates year-round.

The management of Legend Danang Golf Resort cited that the golf course's occupancy rate is now virtually nonexistent. While the beginning of the year saw a consistent influx of South Korean tourists across all 36 holes due to the peak season for this market, the summer season welcomes new visitors from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and soon, those arriving via the newly opened Dubai route, who come to experience fireworks and golf.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/don-bay-phao-hoa-185250619184116973.htm