Da Nang strengthens tourism, culture and sports cooperation in Europe

Expanding international cooperation in tourism, sports and sustainable development

On June 19, the Da Nang delegation met with representatives of Real Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation to discuss cooperation in sports tourism and youth football training.

During the meetings with Managing Director of the Real Madrid Foundation Julio Gonzalez Ronco and Emilio Butragueno, Director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid Football Club, Nguyen Dinh Vinh highlighted Da Nang’s focus on youth football development and proposed cooperation with Real Madrid in organising friendly matches featuring Real Madrid legends, developing young talent, sharing club management expertise, implementing community projects, and transferring advanced coaching methods.

Real Madrid representatives welcomed the proposals and expressed readiness to explore cooperation in friendly matches, youth training, and sports industry development. The delegation also studied the club’s business model and commercial value chain management.

Promoting green tourism and sustainable urban development

Earlier, the delegation visited the Monaco Tourism and Convention Authority to learn about sustainable tourism development and urban planning.

During the meeting, Guy Antognelli, Director of the Monaco Tourism and Convention Authority, shared Monaco’s strategy of attracting high-spending visitors through a diversified tourism ecosystem, including MICE tourism, the Formula One World Championship and the luxury yacht industry.

He said that MICE tourism generates about 40% of the sector’s revenue and emphasised Monaco’s commitment to high-quality, environmentally sustainable tourism.

Nguyen Dinh Vinh expressed interest in Monaco’s experience in hosting more than 500 international events annually and requested insights into government-private sector cooperation in building a globally recognised MICE tourism brand for application in Da Nang.

Also on June 19, the delegation visited the headquarters of UN Tourism in Madrid. During the meeting, city leaders presented Da Nang’s tourism development strategy and vision of becoming a city of heritage, creativity and cultural identity.

The delegation noted that the city’s expanded administrative boundaries create new opportunities for hosting international events and festivals while emphasising the need to strengthen green tourism, premium experiences and cultural preservation.

Da Nang proposed that UN Tourism support the city in joining international tourism networks, promoting its global profile, connecting with tourism associations and providing access to expertise in destination management, smart tourism, green tourism and environmental protection through conferences, forums and training programmes.

The delegation formally invited officials from UN Tourism to visit and hold conferences in Da Nang. Liu Shijun, UN Tourism Executive Director, expressed support for cooperation in sustainable, community-based and creative tourism development.

The delegation also met with Vietnam’s Ambassador to Spain Doan Thanh Song and the Metropoli Foundation to discuss tourism development, smart urban planning and green growth.

These meetings opened new opportunities for international cooperation and provided valuable experience to support Da Nang’s goal of becoming a leading regional destination for tourism, events and festivals.

Strengthening local-level cooperation and learning from inclusive welfare models

Later on June 19, the delegation visited the Embassy of Vietnam in Spain to discuss cooperation in tourism, culture, sports and local-level partnerships.

Nguyen Dinh Vinh said the visit aimed to promote international cooperation and sustainable tourism development, emphasising tourism’s role as a key driver of Da Nang’s future growth.

Doan Thanh Song highlighted the strong Vietnam - Spain relationship and Spain’s tourism success, welcoming well over 95 million international visitors in 2025.

He suggested that Da Nang should learn from Spain’s experience in tourism management, strengthen cooperation with UN Tourism, and explore partnerships with Catalonia on sustainable and green tourism.

Nguyen Dinh Vinh requested continued support from the Embassy of Vietnam in Spain in connecting Da Nang with international organisations, sharing expertise on heritage management, establishing ties with a suitable Spanish locality, and facilitating visits by the Real Madrid Legends.

The delegation also visited the ONCE Foundation and the Typhlological Museum, learning about inclusive employment and vocational training models for people with disabilities. The experience provided valuable lessons for Da Nang’s efforts to strengthen social inclusion and build a more sustainable and people-centred city.