"One day, Many experiences": New Journey into rural Da Nang
DNO - Just beyond the vibrant coastline and modern skyline of Da Nang lies another world,, quiet, green, and deeply rooted in tradition. A new tourism concept, “One day - many experiences”, is beginning to take shape, inviting visitors to step off the beaten path and immerse themselves in the authentic rhythms of rural life in central Vietnam.
At the center of this initiative lies Phong Nam ancient village, where time appears to move at a gentler pace. Meandering paths lined with bamboo groves lead to centuries-old homes, while expansive rice fields stretch toward the horizon.
Here, the experience is not designed around spectacle, but around immersion, walking, observing, and quietly absorbing the textures of village life.
What distinguishes this model, however, is its emphasis on connectivity. Rather than isolating destinations, it weaves them into a coherent itinerary.
From Phong Nam, visitors can continue to the highly popular Thanh Ha Pottery Village in Hoi An where artisans preserve generations-old techniques, or venture to Dong Khuong village, where community-based tourism initiatives are taking root.
Each stop contributes a distinct layer, craftsmanship, agriculture, culinary heritage, forming a multi-dimensional portrait of rural Da Nang.
The appeal lies in its diversity within proximity. Within the span of a single day, travellers can cycle through paddy fields, engage in hands-on craft-making, savor regional cuisine, and encounter local narratives that rarely surface in conventional itineraries. The experience is less about consumption and more about participation.
Driving this transformation are grassroots efforts such as the Hoa Chau Ecological Agricultural Community Tourism Cooperative, led by a new generation of tourism practitioners.
Their approach reflects a broader shift toward sustainable, community-centered travel, one that prioritizes cultural preservation alongside economic opportunity.
Further enriching this vision is the proposal for weekend rural markets, conceived as cultural waypoints rather than mere commercial spaces.
These markets would offer visitors a sensory entry point into local life, through food, craft demonstrations, and regional products, while reinforcing the continuity between heritage and contemporary practice.
According to Le Quoc Viet, the Head of the Local Values Preservation Destinations Club, the development of one-day tour routes linking established destinations, alongside plans to identify suitable sites for a weekend rural market, offers a compelling pathway for craft villages to shape their tourism strategies.
Envisioned as more than a marketplace, the rural market would allow visitors to experience Quang-style cuisine, witness live demonstrations of traditional crafts, and purchase distinctive OCOP products.
It is designed to function as a “cultural stopover”, a space where heritage is both preserved and reactivated, connecting past and present in a tangible way.
For international travellers increasingly drawn to authenticity and depth, rural Da Nang presents a compelling proposition. It offers not only a departure from the familiar circuits of mass tourism, but also a more nuanced understanding of place where landscapes, livelihoods, and traditions converge.
Da Nang is home to 30 traditional craft villages and 17 recognized traditional occupations, each deeply embedded in the region’s historical and cultural fabric.
From these enduring communities, a distinctive “village tourism narrative” is gradually emerging - one that transforms centuries-old traditions into a dynamic and engaging visitor experience.
In essence, “One day - many experiences” is more than a tourism product. It is a reframing of travel itself, an invitation to move more slowly, to engage more meaningfully, and to discover that the true richness of a destination often lies beyond its most visible edges.