Da Nang positions river and sea sports as distinctive cultural identity
DNO - Da Nang is gradually shaping river and sea sports into an integral part of its local cultural identity, connecting community life while boosting tourism and promoting its image to the world.
Da Nang boasts a coastline stretching thousands of kilometers, not only along the mainland but also across islands in the Hoang Sa Special Zone, Tan Hiep Island Commune, Tam Hai Island Commune, and the small Son Tra Islet.
These natural advantages provide a solid foundation for Da Nang to develop water-based sports such as swimming, rowing, sailing, surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
Held annually on the Han River, the Da Nang Traditional Boat Race not only attracts a large number of athletes and residents but also honors those with skillful rowing abilities.
Boat racing has also played a role cultural diplomacy. For example, before the administrative merger, Da Nang hosted the 2015-2016 Clipper Race.
Similarly, Hoi An City, formerly part of Quang Nam Province, also organized the Hoi An - Japan Friendship Boat Race on the Hoai River in 2015, and the World Windsurfing Championship and the Vietnam Open Sailing Championship in 2017. Also, it has maintained the international open-water swim from Cu Lao Cham to Cua Dai Beach for many years.
Following the administrative merger, the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches has continued to promote major events, including the Da Nang Surfing Open 2025 at My An Beach in Ngu Hanh Son Ward. This international surfing tournament was first launched in 2022.
River and sea sports are not only a form of cultural diplomacy but also a vital resource for cultural tourism.
The 2023 Coastal Culture and Sports Festival in Thang Binh District, for example, attracted visitors with several unique competitions such as fish-carrying at sea and boat races on sand.
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Safety and humanitarian values are another defining aspect of river and sea sports in Da Nang. The Da Nang International Lifeguard Competition brings together rescue teams from various localities, fostering skills exchange, and improving emergency response capacity.
Therefore, it is no coincidence that the Vietnam Rowing Federation has selected Da Nang as a future national key center for marine sports training.
At the recent workshop on high-performance sports development and sports economy for the 2025 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2045, proposals were even raised to position Da Nang as one of Asia’s leading marine sports economy hubs by 2045.
Clearly, river and sea sports have greatly contributed to affirming Da Nang's cultural tourism brand. However, past accidents related to these activities underline the need to further strengthen management, safety regulations and specialized infrastructure, rather than restricting development.
This challenge also serves as a driving force for Da Nang to continue developing river and sea sports as an integral part of its identity that is rich in tradition, modern, and attractive to domestic and international tourists.