Da Nang (VNA) 💧– For the first time, Da Nang has been ranked among the top 10 Asian cities with the highest rate of returning visitors. To welcome over 17.3 million visitors this year, the central city is stepping up efforts to attract tourists, with digital transformation seen as a key driver for promoting its destinations.

As a pioneer in digitalising tourism, Da Nang has launched an electronic tourism portal, the VR360 “One Touch to Da Nang” application, 3D scanning at museums, and a shared big data system to connect information between local authorities and businesses. The Da Nang Museum has utilised advanced technologies such as 3D mapping films, interactive screens, and multilingual chatbots while digitising artefacts and archives. Visitors can now access information through Bluetooth audio guides and NFC check-in. Nguyen Tan Hao, a visitor from Hanoi, said the 3D Mapping film on the history of Dien Hai Citadel offers a vivid, easy-to-understand experience for his family. The museum is also digitising its collections on the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ digital resource management system, enhancing conservation and reducing direct contact with original artefacts. Its director, Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, said the facility will expand its multilingual audio guide system to improve visitor experiences. Digitalisation has been expanded to include booking and service platforms. The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has implemented artificial intelligence (AI) to offer information and consultations, integrating chatbots into Zalo and Facebook. They have also encouraged businesses to participate in the digital ecosystem. As a result, online tourism services increased 25% in 2023. Recently, the city introduced three unique digital “experience passports”: Da Nang Food Tour, Da Nang Heritage Tour, and Da Nang Green Tour. Available on TripC, the e-passports allow tourists to register, check in, collect stamps, and redeem gifts online. According to Nguyen Nam Hai, Managing Director of TripC AI JSC, the passports select quality destinations meeting safety and service standards, while also updating visitor feedback to help improve services.

Boosting competitiveness for “smokeless industry”

The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has completed a digital tourism database, published six open datasets, and digitised information from nearly 2,000 tourism enterprises. Most hotels now use platforms like Agoda, Booking, and Traveloka, while some major hotels and international chains are applying ChatGPT-powered chatbots, 360-degree experiences, and automated check-in systems. Nguyen Thi Men, General Director of My My Tourism One Member Company Limited, said digital platforms allow businesses to reach customers much faster. “Traditional tours could take over a month to finalise, but now with just one click, customers can book instantly. Digital transformation is an effective solution, especially for inbound companies, she noted. According to Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Da Nang is also working with travel agencies, associations, and major OTA (Online Travel Agent) platforms like Klook, Traveloka, and Agoda to promote its image. Alongside diversifying products, the city is focusing on improving service quality and building a safe, friendly, and smart tourism environment. Statistics show that in the first seven months of 2025, Da Nang welcomed 10.7 million visitors, including over 4.2 million international arrivals. Revenue from accommodation, dining, and travel services was estimated at 33.8 trillion VND (1.28 billion USD), up 18%, 21%, and 23% year-on-year, respectively./.