“A city of surprises”

From June 20 to 23, the representatives from high-end travel agencies experienced Da Nang’s most iconic attractions. Travel experts unanimously agreed that Da Nang is “a city full of surprises,” thanks to its remarkably distinct and signature experiences.

European Travel Experts enjoying their time at DIFF 2025

During the three-day program, guests visited Sun World Ba Na Hills, My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Linh Ung Pagoda (Son Tra Peninsula), My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An Ancient Town, and the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2025. These diverse experiences, from spiritual heritage to modern entertainment, left an everlasting impression, with many describing them as “unlike anything else in the world.” Their stays at five-star resorts like InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and Premier Village Danang were equally memorable, blending world-class service with the breathtaking beauty of Da Nang’s coastline.

“Nice mixture of city and nature”, Marketing Expert at Sharaf Travel (UAE) says. From the perspective of a social media content creator, Ahmed believes Da Nang will make a strong impression on Middle Eastern travelers, as everything here feels refreshingly different from other well-known destinations. “The cable cars were my favorite part of the whole thing. Going through the clouds, seeing the mountains and the forests was truly beautiful”, he says.

The unforgettable cable car ride above the clouds

Sharing the same view, Mr. Ashfak Ahmed Mahboob Badsha, MICE Manager at Orient Travel (Dubai), also highly rated the cable car experience to the top of Ba Na as the best part of his visit to Da Nang: “Cable cars and banana hills have been remarkable…Truly amazing. The feeling of being among the clouds and mist is an unforgettable experience.” According to Ashfak, the cable car ride to Ba Na should be more widely promoted to attract more international and corporate tourists.“Because this experience is truly worth it,” Ashfak emphasized.

Ms. Janette Stefani, Product Manager at Let’s Go Tours by Amathus in Cyprus — Emirates’ representative in Cyprus — was completely amazed by the Ba Na cable car: “We had our mouths wide open throughout the ride ... .You cannot find [the beauty] in Europe very easily. That kind of beauty.” she noted.

Is Da Nang ready for a new wave of tourists?

The direct flight route from Dubai to Da Nang by Emirates starting June 2025 is being forecasted by many experts as a “launchpad” for a breakthrough, helping Da Nang city to welcome new waves of travelers.

Mrs. Janette Stefani believes that high-end European tourists can now travel directly to Da Nang without needing to transit through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. “ [The flight route] will help out a lot, especially with incentive groups from Europe and also with honeymooners and individual travelers, so holiday travelers. The destination covers all types of tourism, the ones that want to see the sustainability of the country, the ones that want to see nature lovers, everything. It covers everything.” she says.

She also noted that Da Nang has tremendous potential to become a leading destination in the region, as it can welcome tourists all year round thanks to its favorable climate, with the city offering warm temperatures and the top of Ba Na remaining refreshingly cool.

Golden Bridge, the most anticipated destination among the representatives.

Mr. Hasan Gidici, CEO of Global DMC from Turkey, a company that sells about 25,000 tour packages annually to Europe and the Far East, stated that what makes Da Nang appealing to international tourists is its sense of safety. “It's beautiful. I feel safe here. That is the most important thing to me,” he said.

He also shared that Da Nang is still a relatively new destination for Turkish travelers, but thanks to Emirates’ direct flight and the positive reception from travel companies after this familiarization trip, Da Nang will welcome a new wave of visitors from Turkey and other European markets. “This will be a destination that wealthy travelers will return to regularly in the future,” he affirmed.

The remarkable Danang International Firework Festival viewed from the sky

Predictions from business representatives are already being reflected in concrete figures. According to the Da Nang Statistics Office, in the first five months of 2025, the total number of guests served by local accommodations is estimated at 4.6 million, an increase of nearly 21% compared to the same period in 2024. Of this, international arrivals reached an estimated 2.2 million, up nearly 36% compared to last year.

Alongside the Emirates flight, it is no coincidence that Da Nang is drawing increasing attention from emerging international markets. The city is proactively preparing with strong investments from major corporations and has just received the Prime Minister’s approval to establish the Da Nang Free Trade Zone.

The perspectives and insights shared by travel businesses from high-end and demanding markets such as Europe and the Middle East indicate that Da Nang is poised for a major leap — to become not only a leading destination in the region, but a contender on the world tourism stage.