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DNO - As 2026 is around the corner, Da Nang is increasingly becoming an ideal place many visitors are choosing not just to pass through, but to remain in as they welcome the New Year with distinctive and memorable experiences.
For Carrie Higgins, a 38-year-old visitor from Ireland, staying in central Da Nang for New Year 2026 was a deliberate decision shaped by curiosity and climate alike.
Arriving just as the city launched a series of outdoor cultural and entertainment events, she found herself immersed in a festive atmosphere that felt markedly different from year-end celebrations back home.
“In Ireland, the end of the year is usually cold and wet, so most New Year activities happen indoors and are quite limited. Being able to welcome the New Year in a tropical coastal city like Da Nang, with pleasant weather and a lively outdoor festival mood, feels truly special”, Higgins said.
To her, Da Nang embodies a youthful and welcoming coastal city, vibrant enough to spark excitement, yet not overwhelming. That balance, she noted, aligns well with a growing travel trend in which personalized, meaningful experiences are gradually replacing checklist-style itineraries.
Not all travelers, however, seek an energetic countdown to mark the start of a new year. Having spent many New Year’s Eves amid packed squares and fireworks in hometown Paris (France), 74-year-old retiree Jacques Andre Marie, now favors a quieter transition into the year ahead.
In recent years, Jacques has returned consistently to Hoi An to welcome the New Year at a slower pace. “I’m not looking for dazzling fireworks anymore. What matters to me now is a sense of meaning", he said.
Over time, Hoi An has become more than a destination for him. Friendships with local residents have turned each visit into a homecoming of sorts.
His days begin with early morning bike rides through still-quiet streets, followed by simple meals and conversations about everyday life.
In the evening, he might release a lantern onto the Hoai River or share a home-cooked dinner with his hosts, no stage, no countdown, no crowds.
This gentle passage into the New Year, marked by smiles and shared toasts, blurs the line between “visitor” and “local.” It reflects a form of travel that prioritizes genuine connection over spectacle, leaving impressions far deeper than any single event or photo opportunity.
Besides individual stories, Da Nang’s appeal during the year-end period is also reflected in strong data.
According to the Da Nang International Airport, the peak New Year travel period from December 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026 is expected to record 3,574 takeoffs and landings, a 7.6 percent increase year on year, with daily flights averaging between 130 and 146.
Meanwhile, the Travel Trends 2025 report by Booking.com ranked Da Nang among the top 10 most searched destinations by both domestic and international travelers for the New Year holiday.
Da Nang aims to deliver experiences defined by professionalism and warmth so that for many travelers, it is not just a place they have visited, but one they genuinely wish to make comeback.
