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DNO - Da Nang's spacious riverside and coastal parks have become popular gathering places for residents and tourists, offering more than just relaxation. Through exercise, cultural events and community activities, these green spaces are bringing people together and strengthening social bonds.
Meeting places for all ages
Parks are more than green spaces for recreation and environmental improvement. They also play an important role in fostering social connections, particularly as rapid urbanization and increasingly busy lifestyles reduce opportunities for community interaction.
Nguyen Thi Am, a resident from Son Tra Ward, has been a member of a local health exercise club for more than five years. Besides mastering routines using sticks and fans, she regularly participates in performances and exchanges with other clubs.
"I was very shy at first. Even going to the park to exercise made me feel self-conscious," Am recalled. "But the other women encouraged me, and I gradually became more confident. We come from different backgrounds, but our shared love of exercise has brought us together. We've become friends who share the joys and sorrows of growing old."
For Am and many other elderly residents, park-based clubs have become an important source of friendship and emotional support. Women who once spent much of their lives managing households and making ends meet now confidently perform on stage and build friendships beyond their neighborhoods.
Parks also attract younger generations through sporting activities. Nam Duong Park in Hai Chau Ward serves as the afternoon training ground for the Nam Duong - Nghia Dung Karatedo Club, which has around 200 members ranging from five-year-olds to university students.
Club head Ngo Anh Quoc said the park's spacious setting and proximity to the historic Phuoc Ninh Martyrs' Cemetery provide opportunities to teach children gratitude, patriotism and resilience alongside martial arts skills.
The club also encourages environmental responsibility. After each session, students put away equipment, collect litter and clean the surrounding area.
"When we use a public space, we have a responsibility to keep it clean and beautiful. This is an important practical lesson for the children," Quoc said.
Strengthening community connections
Beyond informal gatherings, neighborhood parks are increasingly hosting cultural events, sporting activities and charity programs that bring residents together.
Activities such as lantern processions, Vietnamese classical opera (Tuong) performances and folk games, once familiar childhood experiences for generations born in the 1980s and 1990s, are being revived in public spaces. These events not only entertain children but also create lasting memories and nurture a sense of community belonging.
APEC Park in Hai Chau Ward is a prominent example of how urban parks can develop into vibrant cultural destinations.
According to the Hai Chau Ward Public Service Centre, which manages the park, its central location, distinctive architecture and green surroundings have made it a popular venue for community activities and cultural events.
Nguyen Van Khai, an official at APEC Park, said the venue is increasingly hosting large-scale programs that attract both residents and tourists.
Major events include the 2026 Da Nang Reading Culture Festival, the 2026 Da Nang International Ngoc Linh Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Festival, and an August coffee festival that attracted more than 10,000 visits.
Such events provide diverse cultural experiences while creating opportunities for businesses, artists, organizations and communities from Vietnam and abroad to connect.
Looking ahead, plans to establish a cultural space supporting entrepreneurship and innovation at APEC Park are expected to expand its role as a multifunctional destination combining cultural activities, creativity and startup development.
Local authorities are also planning a Cultural Week in 2026, with activities held simultaneously at parks across the ward to encourage greater community participation.
These initiatives aim to ensure that public spaces remain accessible and beneficial to everyone, regardless of age, occupation or economic circumstances.
Ultimately, a park's value is measured not merely by its landscaping or investment, but by the connections it fosters and the positive impact it has on community life.