Da Nang tourism poised for breakthrough year in 2026

Paving the way for future tourism growth

Da Nang expects its accommodation sector to serve 19.1 million visitors this year, up 10.5% compared to 2025. International arrivals are projected to reach 8.7 million, a 13.7% increase, while domestic visitors are estimated at 10.4 million, up 8%.

Revenue from accommodation, food services and travel is forecast to hit VND70 trillion (approximately US$2.8 billion), marking growth of more than 15% year-on-year.

The strategy for 2026 focuses not only on volume but also on quality and sustainability, with a focus on reflecting new spatial and market conditions, while expanding products both in scale and depth.

“We will develop our product system based on traditional cultural values, using green tourism and sustainability criteria as guiding principles,” said Ms. Truong Thi Hong Hanh, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The approach aims to diversify offerings while reinforcing Da Nang’s distinct identity in an increasingly competitive regional market.

The city signaled its upbeat outlook from the first day of the Lunar New Year. On February 17 (the first day of Tet), Da Nang welcomed its first “lucky” visitors of the year at the Da Nang International Airport and at a park on the southern bank of the western end of the “Rong” (Dragon) Bridge.

International guests were greeted with traditional lion dances, lucky red envelopes and curated Tet experiences, including festive activities and Vietnamese cuisine.

The expanded welcome programme, now held not only at the airport but also at a central public space, reflects efforts to turn cultural rituals into immersive tourism products.

Among the early arrivals was Demetrios Ladas, a traveller from the United States, who said he had long wanted to experience Tet in Vietnam after celebrating the holiday with Vietnamese friends at home.

Choosing Da Nang as the first stop of his New Year journey, he hoped to fully embrace local customs, from lucky money traditions to festive foods.

The presence of international visitors on the first morning of the Lunar New Year is seen as a positive signal for inbound tourism in 2026, further reinforcing Da Nang’s image as a dynamic, welcoming and culturally rich destination in the opening days of the new year.

Bright spot of double-digit growth

According to the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city’s tourism sector sustained double-digit growth in both visitor numbers and revenue in 2025, underscoring its strong recovery momentum.

Accommodation establishments served an estimated 17.3 million visitors during the year, up 15% compared to 2024. Of these, international arrivals exceeded 7.6 million, marking a sharp 25% increase year-on-year, while domestic travelers reached nearly 9.7 million, up 8%.

Revenue from accommodation, food services and travel was estimated at VND60 trillion (approximately US$2.4 billion), representing growth of more than 21% from the previous year.

Official statistics from the city show that value added (VA) in accommodation and food services rose by an estimated 12.04% in 2025, contributing 0.75 percentage points to Da Nang’s overall GRDP growth.

Within that, VA in accommodation services increased 11.19%, accounting for 0.35 percentage points of the city’s GRDP expansion, while food and beverage services grew 12.90%, contributing 0.40 percentage points to total economic growth.