Connecting the heritage of Central Vietnam

The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival DIFF 2026 is becoming a new connecting point in the journey of exploring the heritage chain of Central Vietnam.

Tourists visit and experience the My Son World Cultural Heritage site. Photo: Provided by the site.

From the fireworks festival on the Han River, many tourism activities, cultural experiences, and supporting products have been expanded, contributing to increased length of stay and creating more appeal for tourists visiting Da Nang and the Central region.

Expanding the experiential space

DIFF is creating momentum to connect famous destinations in the Central Vietnam heritage chain such as the Imperial City of Hue, the ancient town of Hoi An, and the My Son Sanctuary, opening up diverse experiential spaces for tourists. The combination of modern festivals and the cultural depth of heritage destinations is considered a unique advantage, contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of Da Nang and Central Vietnam tourism on the regional tourism map.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Deputy Director of Hai Van Cat International Travel Joint Stock Company, assessed that linking Da Nang International Festival (DIFF) with the Central Vietnam heritage chain is a perfect "three-legged stool" strategy, creating a tourism corridor with strong appeal in 2026. According to Mr. Thien, this connection brings outstanding value, transforming Da Nang from an "event destination" into a "complete experience destination". If DIFF is a "magnet" for world-class entertainment events lasting nearly two months, then the Hue - Hoi An - My Son heritage chain provides cultural depth to retain tourists.

“This connectivity also contributes to increasing the attractiveness of the market. International tourists coming to Vietnam often want to maximize their cultural experience. Tourists can enjoy top-notch light shows and fireworks displays while easily accessing historical values ​​within just a few hours of travel. This creates a huge competitive advantage for Central Vietnam compared to other destinations in Southeast Asia,” Mr. Thien analyzed.

International tourists visit and experience traditional craft villages. Photo: NH

Spillover effect

The connection between DIFF and the Central Vietnam heritage chain also creates a ripple effect on the tourism economy. With fireworks displays held every Saturday evening, tourists have more time on the remaining days to explore Hue, Hoi An, My Son, and nearby destinations. This rational distribution helps regulate the flow of tourists, reduce pressure on Da Nang's tourism infrastructure, and create opportunities for tourism revenue to spread to many localities in the region.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, General Director of Viet Angroup, believes that connecting the DIFF (Destination of Vietnam) with the Central Vietnam heritage chain is creating a huge attraction for international tourists because it offers a "multi-experience" journey. Tourists can explore many layers of cultural values ​​of Central Vietnam in a single trip. According to Mr. Tam, this year's DIFF season has seen a trend of tourists wanting to combine many types of experiences in one trip, from participating in festival activities to relaxing, exploring nature, and taking care of their health.

“Based on that reality, businesses are developing products that diversify experiences to meet the increasingly diverse needs of tourists, such as enjoying a fireworks display at Son Tra Marina; participating in sightseeing activities and experiencing the sea and Son Tra Bay by Aphrodite yacht; and enjoying the pristine natural beauty of Da Nang in a relaxing way... After these vibrant events, many international tourists tend to spend time on health care activities, rejuvenating their energy, and learning about local life and culture, contributing to extending their stay in Da Nang,” Mr. Tam shared.

Tourists enjoy a walking tour of Son Tra Peninsula. Photo: THU HA

Creating a sustainable product chain.

To maximize the influx of tourists during the DIFF season and extend their stay from 2-3 days to 5-7 days, travel businesses are proactively designing new product systems combining Hue and Hoi An; sunrise tours on Hai Van Pass connecting Da Nang and Hue; and incorporating interactive activities such as taking tourists to Hoi An lantern-making villages and Thanh Ha pottery village, where visitors can make their own souvenirs and create a personal touch for their trip.

To create a sustainable tourism product chain linking DIFF and Central Vietnam's heritage sites, tourism businesses believe that close coordination between local authorities, heritage management units, and tourism enterprises is necessary.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, the most important thing is for localities to have a common promotional strategy for the entire region instead of developing each destination individually. When Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue connect to form a unified tourism itinerary, the attractiveness of Central Vietnam will be much stronger. Businesses need to proactively build products that link festivals, culture, resorts, and health care, enhancing the experience for tourists. "When everyone shares a common direction for sustainable development, DIFF will not only be a fireworks festival but also become the starting point for a journey to explore the chain of heritage sites in Central Vietnam," Mr. Tam suggested.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien suggested that localities should implement inter-regional stimulus programs, facilitating travel and access to destinations in the region for tourists. Cultural activities, festivals, and supporting experiences should also be organized in conjunction with the DIFF to increase the attractiveness of the product chain. Improving service quality, controlling prices, and building a healthy business environment are also considered important factors in enhancing the experience and retaining tourists.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that the city's tourism industry will continue to invest in developing attractive and distinctive products, cultural tourism visiting historical sites, and cultural research tourism combined with experiences, promoting the brand "One green destination - 3 world-class experiences". At the same time, it will research and develop projects and plans to develop tourism products in Da Nang city, linking with neighboring localities...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/noi-nhip-di-san-mien-trung-3339131.html