Opportunities for the night economy from seamless space

Many expectations have been raised about the expansion of Quang Nam’s night-time economic space after its merger with Da Nang City. However, for harmonious and sustainable development, it is necessary to have detailed planning and zoning to create diverse and rich services.

Up to now, Hoi An has not been able to implement the project to develop the night economy .

Unfinished night economy project in Hoi An

Five years ago, the Project on developing the night-time economy in Vietnam was approved by the Prime Minister (Decision No. 1129). This is considered an important premise and basis for localities such as Quang Nam to promote the exploitation of the potential for night-time economic development, creating a driving force to promote the economy, improve income and people's lives...

In 2023, Hoi An decided to unify the policy of developing the night economy at the CC2 land area (Fishing Village No. 4, Cam An Ward, Hoi An City) with entertainment services combined with typical coastal food and beverage services, creating new tourism products for the locality. However, it has not been possible to implement it yet.

Despite the “support” from Resolution No. 31 of the Provincial Party Committee, with the viewpoint of “investing in building and developing Hoi An City in the direction of an ecological - cultural - tourist city to maximize its potential and available advantages”, in the task groups and key solutions, there is a requirement to “promote the development of the night-time economy and commercial services in Hoi An City”.

In May 2024, Hoi An City contracted a consulting unit to develop a night-time economic outline and approved the outline for the first time. However, it has now been temporarily suspended due to the policy of terminating the city government's activities.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lanh - Vice Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee admitted that although the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism urged, the city could not complete the project in time, not to mention the issue of investors and the issue of settling the costs later when the city government model no longer exists. Therefore, the outline is temporarily closed, waiting for the arrangement of new wards and communes, including the merger of provinces, and then handing over to the localities and related units for further consideration.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Hoi An has long implemented a number of very good night-time economic service models, but to develop synchronously and effectively, it is necessary to have research, develop a methodical project associated with regional planning (satellite areas, outside the old town) and increase investment in night-time service activities such as culture, events, entertainment, and recreation to serve tourists all night, especially international visitors...

Post-merger expectations

Currently, Da Nang is a locality that has effectively developed a night-time economic model with many outstanding tourism products and services at night, from An Thuong tourist area; My An night beach; Bach Dang walking street; to services for night tourists at Son Tra night market, Han River night cruises; night events and festivals...

Da Nang has a lot of experience in developing the night-time economy. In the photo: Foreign tourists on Bach Dang Walking Street. Photo: VINH LOC

Therefore, the merger between Quang Nam and Da Nang is expected to expand the night-time economic space, and southern localities will take advantage of the experience, policies and infrastructure of Da Nang City.

Mr. Le Tan Thanh Tung - Deputy General Director of Vitraco Tourism - Event - Transportation Company said that with experience and a basically complete infrastructure system serving the night economy, when merging the two localities, it will certainly form a large development space, thereby creating a continuous chain of tourism and night services, contributing to increasing the length of stay and spending of tourists.

“After the merger, the eastern coastal region of Quang Nam will have the opportunity to access larger investment resources, including FDI capital and tourism service businesses already operating in Da Nang. These businesses can expand their operations to the south of the city, bringing many opportunities for tourism industries and services, especially the night-time economy.

Tourists will no longer feel limited by administrative boundaries as before, so they will go out at night more often. Not to mention, the operating hours of night spots will now be more consistent in the direction that Da Nang City is implementing," Mr. Tung analyzed.

Sharing the same view on the opportunity to develop the night-time economic space, but according to Mr. Le Quoc Viet - Chairman of Quang Nam Destination Club, after the merger, Da Nang City (new) needs to have a specific, harmonious and polarized planning and calculation, and product groups must be divided in a direction that has its own identity and is different.

According to him, Hoi An can do night-time economy in a quiet, peaceful, natural ecological way but can still operate late such as recreating the life of Cam An fishing village at night through fishing activities for visitors to experience, not necessarily bars, pubs, dance clubs...

“In particular, the southern area of Hoi An such as Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh, Tam Ky has the advantage of large land funds, with much room to turn into OCOP product shopping centers, creating opportunities for the development of craft villages in the suburbs, limiting too much concentration in the core area of Hoi An, causing overload of services and infrastructure, while also helping customers of each market and age group have many choices,” Mr. Viet shared.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/co-hoi-cho-kinh-te-dem-tu-khong-gian-lien-mach-3157129.html