CULTURE - PEOPLE: The heart of the new city

When Da Nang and Quang Nam merged, a new horizon of development opened up. Beyond just expanding the economic scale, population, and land area, this event also brought about a diverse socio-cultural space, rich in depth and offering new opportunities. Within this picture, the big question is: What will become the heart of the new city? The answer lies in CULTURE and PEOPLE, the roots of sustainability, the central driving force for creating a humane, creative, and distinctive urban model.

Hai Chau Village Festival (April 4, 2025). This festival, with over 500 years of history, is an important cultural event in the spiritual life of the people of Da Nang . Photo: HUYNH VAN TRUYEN

Over the years, the former Da Nang city has been known as a pioneering locality with outstanding social welfare policies. In particular, the 100% tuition fee exemption for students from preschool to high school and vocational training students has left a strong impression.

This policy not only reduces the burden on families but also demonstrates a long-term vision: Investing in people is a sustainable investment.

Alongside this, many programs supporting poor households, families entitled to preferential policies, and disadvantaged people have been maintained. Investment continues in the mountainous areas of Quang Nam province. The spirit of "leaving no one behind" has become a standard of conduct, contributing to shaping the compassionate and humane identity of the people of Da Nang and Quang Nam.

Humanistic policies and community movements have built the brand of a "livable city". Da Nang is a green, clean, and beautiful city, a tourist destination without price gouging, where people are willing to give way and protect the environment.

International festivals, iconic bridges, and regional cultural events have created "soft power," helping Da Nang present a beautiful image in the eyes of friends from all over the world.

Participating in the heritage education program, students listened to explanations about Cham cultural artifacts at the My Son temple complex. Photo: VINH LOC

Challenges in the management and development of culture and human resources.

From July 1st, 2025, when Quang Nam and Da Nang merge, the new city will enter a new phase of large-scale development. From a city of 1.2 million people, it will now become a city with over 3.065 million people and an area of ​​nearly 12,000 square kilometers, making it the largest centrally-governed city in the country in terms of area.

Along with great opportunities, the responsibility of social governance has also become heavier. In terms of social welfare, while Da Nang previously provided free tuition for approximately 260,000 students, that number has now nearly tripled to over 670,000.

If the new city decides to maintain this policy, the budget must increase, and it must also apply the nationwide tuition fee exemption policy that has been in place since the 2025-2026 school year.

From a socio-cultural perspective, the challenge is even greater: integrating modern urban communities with the vast and diverse rural areas, and reducing the sharp polarization of wealth inequality.

Therefore, cultural and social policies cannot be applied mechanically, but must be flexible, both connecting and harmonizing differences, avoiding disparities, and creating consensus within the political system and among the entire population.

Given these challenges, the new city needs a smart governance mechanism to guide its development: fostering the creativity of its citizens, mobilizing community strength, building social trust, and establishing standards of urban civilization and a civilized way of life. Only then will culture and people truly become the central driving force.

Cultural and tourism space at Dong Giang Sky Gate Eco-tourism Area (Ben Hien commune). Photo: XUAN SON

Defining the cultural standards of the people of Da Nang.

The political report of the City Party Committee's Executive Committee for the 2025-2030 term, to be presented at the First Congress of the Da Nang City Party Committee (2025-2030 term), clearly states: "Socio-cultural development must be synchronized and closely linked with the economy, aiming to build a city rich in identity and improve the lives of the people."

Simultaneously, it stated the necessary requirement: "Research and concretize the criteria, standards, and characteristics of Da Nang city and its modern socialist people, rich in identity, humane, creative, highly knowledgeable, highly cultured, high-income, highly capable, and with a high quality of life."

"Review and closely monitor national projects and programs on cultural revival and development, and the building of Vietnamese people, in order to propose suitable projects and secure resources for implementation."

Katu men and women sing love songs during cultural activities that recreate daily life. Photo: D.T.

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"A city is only truly strong if it is supported by enduring intrinsic values. These include culture, lifestyle, community spirit, and historical resilience... And the most fundamental way for culture to live, spread, and become a driving force is none other than education."

The city of Da Nang needs to strengthen moral education, character development, and life skills training for all generations, from students to officials, from workers to entrepreneurs. At the same time, it needs to build a healthy social environment where family culture, workplace culture, and civic culture are fostered and promoted.”

Distinguished Teacher, Labor Hero Le Cong Co ("Da Nang City on the path to becoming a cultural center", Da Nang Publishing House, August 2025)

Consulting with numerous experts, there is a consensus that Da Nang already has the brand of a "livable city," but to maintain and enhance this, the key factor is building a human culture. All economic policies must be considered in relation to human development.

Based on the foundation of modern Vietnamese human values ​​(Patriotism - Compassion - Loyalty - Honesty - Solidarity - Diligence - Creativity), the city of Da Nang has researched and defined eight pillars of its human culture, such as: Humanity and loyalty in conduct; honesty and responsibility in action; solidarity and cooperation in the community; discipline and civility in life; creativity and knowledge in development; diligence and efficiency in work; rich identity but always ready to integrate; happiness and high quality of life. These are not only guiding principles for action but also benchmarks for evaluating social progress.

If an inspiring slogan is needed, perhaps an 11-word phrase could be chosen: "People of Da Nang: Humane, Compassionate, Creative, Happy." This slogan would both affirm core values ​​and instill confidence, becoming a driving force that spreads from schools and offices to every residential area…

Tourists learn about the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Co Tu people at the Ta Lang - Gian Bi Community Cultural and Tourism Center (Hai Van ward). Photo: Xuan Son

In the period 2025-2030, the biggest challenge is to translate the orientations in the Political Report and Resolution of the City Party Congress into specific policies and projects with clear criteria, transparent monitoring mechanisms, and decisive implementation.

Only when humane policies, community movements, and civilized standards are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of every citizen can a city truly be a livable place.

A city is not measured solely by its skyscrapers or massive infrastructure projects, but also by the smiles of its people, the kindness in their daily interactions, and their shared pride in their identity.

Culture and people are the heart and the lifeblood that nourishes every step forward, measuring development with a system of happiness indicators. Only when that heart beats strongly and vibrantly can the city truly be sustainable and rise to become the "Cultural, Creative, and Integrated Center of Central Vietnam and the entire country."

Source: https://baodanang.vn/van-hoa-con-nguoi-trai-tim-cua-thanh-pho-moi-3302857.html