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On April 14th, the Prime Minister officially approved the plan to merge Quang Nam province and Da Nang city, forming a new centrally-administered administrative unit called Da Nang City. According to the plan, the administrative and political center of the new city will be located in Hai Chau district, the current central location of Da Nang.
With a natural area of 11,859.6 km² and a population of nearly 2.82 million people, the new administrative unit becomes the largest centrally-governed city in the country. Compared to the present, the new Da Nang city will expand its area by more than nine times, while also inheriting a wealth of cultural, economic, and infrastructure potential from Quang Nam province.
The most significant aspect of this merger is that the three UNESCO-recognized heritage sites will now be under the ownership of Da Nang, serving as a golden foundation for the city's tourism development strategy and promoting its image on the international map.
Quang Nam and Da Nang will merge, forming a new centrally-administered administrative unit called Da Nang City.
Hoi An Old Town
One of the gems the new city has inherited is the ancient town of Hoi An – recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Situated along the tranquil Thu Bon River, Hoi An ancient town has long been famous for its old-fashioned architecture, peaceful atmosphere, and unique blend of Asian and European cultures.
Covering an area of approximately 60km², Hoi An includes the ancient town in Minh An ward and the Cu Lao Cham archipelago offshore. It was once one of the busiest international trading ports in Southeast Asia from the 16th to the 19th centuries, attracting merchant ships and traders from China, Japan, India, and Europe.
Hoi An's highlight is its more than 1,300 well-preserved historical sites, including ancient houses, communal houses, temples, wells, ancestral halls, and other religious structures. Every street, tiled roof, and moss-covered wall carries the dust of time, evoking a glorious yet tranquil past.
Hoi An's tourism development over the years shows great potential when combining heritage with community tourism, traditional cuisine, and cultural activities such as the Old Town Night, lantern release, or the Lantern Festival.
Hoi An Ancient Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized in 1999.
My Son Sanctuary
Located in Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, My Son Sanctuary is a complex of temples and towers belonging to the ancient Champa civilization. This site was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1999 due to its unique historical, architectural, and religious value.
Discovered by French archaeologists in the late 19th century, My Son Sanctuary lies deep within a secluded valley, surrounded by mountains and dense forests. It was once the religious and political center of the Champa kingdom for centuries, with over 70 temple structures built continuously from the 4th to the 13th centuries.
The Cham tower architecture at My Son is deeply influenced by Hinduism, especially the worship of Shiva. Each tower complex has a main tower symbolizing Mount Meru – the center of the universe according to Hindu beliefs – along with surrounding smaller towers. Exquisite carvings depicting Apsara dancers, elephants, lions, flowers, and foliage are still clearly visible on many of the remaining structures.
Despite being severely damaged by war, most notably the loss of the 24-meter-high A1 tower, My Son still retains the original value of a once glorious civilization. It is also a destination that attracts tourists who are passionate about exploring history and archaeology.
My Son Sanctuary is a complex of temples and towers belonging to the ancient Champa civilization.
The rock formations of Ngu Hanh Son
Unlike the two aforementioned tangible cultural heritage sites, the Marble Mountains of Ngu Hanh Son are the first documentary heritage site in Da Nang to be recognized by UNESCO in 2022, under the Memory of the World Programme for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Ma Nhai is a system of 78 stone inscriptions in both Chinese and Vietnamese characters, carved directly onto the cliffs and caves within the Ngu Hanh Son scenic area in Ngu Hanh Son district. The texts span from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, reflecting the thoughts, viewpoints, and records of the Nguyen dynasty emperors, Zen masters, and scholars of the time who visited and performed rituals at the scenic site.
The greatest value of these rock inscriptions lies not only in their literary and religious content but also in their cultural connection between countries in the region such as Vietnam, China, and Japan. Some inscriptions even record meetings and poetic exchanges between East Asian intellectuals during the feudal period.
Today, the Marble Mountains of Ngu Hanh Son are a special destination for those who love traditional culture and the art of Han Nom script, and also a place that preserves the intellectual heritage throughout many historical dynasties.
The Marble Mountains of Ngu Hanh Son are the first documentary heritage site in Da Nang to be recognized by UNESCO in 2022.
New impetus for development in the expanded city of Da Nang.
The merger of Quang Nam and Da Nang is not merely a change in administrative boundaries, but a major shift in development strategy. With three UNESCO-recognized heritage sites, including one documentary heritage site and two tangible cultural heritage sites, the new city possesses unique values that enable it to rise to regional prominence.
In the context of cultural tourism, heritage tourism, and experiential tourism becoming increasingly popular worldwide, Da Nang, with its expanded potential, can effectively leverage these "treasures" to develop inter-regional tourism routes and enhance the visitor experience.
Furthermore, the integration of transportation infrastructure, seaports, airports, and industrial zones between Da Nang and Quang Nam also opens up strong prospects for attracting investment, especially in the service, logistics, education, and high-tech sectors.
