Da Nang seeks to strengthen cooperation with Thai localities

Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Thi welcomed Consul General Wiraka Moodhitaporn and her delegation.

She also took the opportunity to thank the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Thai Business Association for coordinating with the city to organize activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand.

Briefing the delegation on Da Nang's socio-economic development, Vice Chairwoman Thi said that following its merger with Quang Nam Province, Da Nang now covers nearly 12,000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 3.1 million, creating greater space and potential for development.

In the first half of 2026, Da Nang’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) grew by 9.52%, the highest rate in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands regions.

Since the beginning of the year, the city has welcomed more than 12.1 million visitors, including 6 million international arrivals. In the first seven months of the year, Da Nang attracted US$402.79 million in foreign direct investment (FDI).

She also informed that Da Nang has been prioritizing the development of seaports and aviation services linked to logistics; high technology and startups; information technology, electronics and telecommunications associated with the digital economy; as well as high-tech agriculture and fisheries.

The city has also stepped up efforts to attract investment in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), gene technology and stem cell technology.

Da Nang has maintained official friendship and cooperation ties with two Thai localities: Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.

Their bilateral cooperation has focused on logistics, trade, tourism, human resource training, investment connectivity and the development of transport routes along the East - West Economic Corridor.

Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Thi asked the Thai Consulate General to help encourage Ubon Ratchathani Province to soon renew its friendship and cooperation agreement with Da Nang following the merger, and coordinate with the Khon Kaen provincial authorities to develop an effective plan for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022.

The city also called on the Thai Consulate General to continue connecting Thai businesses with investment opportunities in high technology, clean energy, and the digital economy, while exploring ways to make more effective use of the Ubon Ratchathani - Southern Laos - Nam Giang International Border Gate route to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods.

At the same time, Mrs. Thi also proposed Thailand maintain and increase the frequency of direct flights between Bangkok and Da Nang, provide scholarships for students studying the Thai language, and strengthen exchanges among students and experts as well as cooperation in education and training.

The city pledged to actively accompany and support Thai businesses in exploring investment opportunities, and implementing cooperation programs in Da Nang.

For her part, Thai Consul General Wiraka Moodhitaporn expressed her belief that activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - Thailand diplomatic relations would contribute to making the bilateral ties increasingly substantive and effective.

Congratulating Da Nang on its achievements during the first six months of the year, the Thai diplomat showed her confidence that, with its existing potential and effective administration, the city would accomplish its development targets.

She also spoke highly of Da Nang's pioneering efforts to establish a Free Trade Zone and an International Financial Center, as well as develop the semiconductor and AI sectors, which she said would create new drivers of growth.

Ms. Wiraka Moodhitaporn said Thailand has been implementing a number of scholarship programs for Vietnamese students, as well as sending volunteers to assist with teaching and tutoring Thai.

Also, the University of Da Nang and Quang Nam University are also expanding cooperation with Thai universities.

Thailand currently has 16 FDI projects in Da Nang with total registered capital of more than US$112 million. Da Nang's export turnover to Thailand reached nearly US$129 million in 2025, while the city welcomed 204,600 Thai visitors during the January - June period in 2026.