Crypto-asset sandbox: An opportunity for digital tourism
DNO - Da Nang, by applying a controlled testing mechanism (sandbox), will create a space for businesses to research, implement, and apply digital fintech solutions and crypto-assets in the city's tourism sector.
Creating a favorable testing environment
According to domestic and international organizations, using a sandbox mechanism for solutions involving crypto-assets in Da Nang’s tourism sector is considered a favorable environment to test the feasibility and effectiveness of new technologies.
This creates an opportunity to seize the digital payment trend, contributing to enhancing service quality and the competitiveness of the tourism industry.
At a seminar titled "Crypto-Asset Sandbox: A New Growth Driver for Da Nang’s Digital Tourism", recently held by the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Assets Association, Tether Holdings Limited, AlphaTrue Solutions, PayD, and Icetea Solution, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Manh Huy highlighted the reason to choose tourism as the initial sector for this initiative.
Reportedly, Da Nang received approximately 15.86 million visitors, including 7.73 million international arrivals, in the first 9 months of 2026, with revenue from accommodation and dining reaching nearly VND53 trillion. This created millions of individual transactions.
If technology can help shorten processing times, reduce currency conversion costs, and bring transparency to transactions, both tourists and small-to-medium-sized enterprises will benefit enormously, Mr Tuan emphasized.
Supporting policy refinement
Speaking at the seminar, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ho Quang Buu affirmed that the city identified technology and digital transformation as its key development drivers.
Given the city’s immense potential for tourism, the application of new financial technology solutions will provide momentum to stimulate demand and significantly enhance the value of services.
Da Nang will focus on establishing a regulatory and supervisory framework that is both flexible and rigorous while creating an appropriate space for businesses to develop in the coming time.
Also, the city concentrates on enhancing payment experiences and accurately identifying the financial needs of international tourists to provide convenient and secure solutions.
Mr. Ho Quang Buu said Da Nang will make its references from international experience, including the sandbox management from Thailand, Singapore, and Switzerland, to develop a model tailored to Vietnam’s culture and legal system.
Simultaneously, the city will strengthen collaboration among banks, technology firms, and tourism entities to transform the sandbox into a substantive growth driver, making a clear and measurable contribution to the city’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP).