In recent years, Da Nang city has made constant efforts to affirm its position as a leading tourist destination in Vietnam and the region. In addition to its modern architectural works and natural beauty, the city also impresses with unique initiatives to enhance the tourist experience. One of the most recent breakthroughs is the equipping of traditional cyclos with multilingual commentary technology, turning this heritage vehicle into a smart and modern "tour guide".
Da Nang has officially launched a cyclo tour with integrated Auto Guide automatic commentary device, a bold initiative by the Tourism Promotion Center (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City). This idea was tested from August 15, 2025 and immediately received positive feedback from tourists. Instead of simply sitting on the car to watch the street, now, tourists, especially foreigners, will be equipped with a smart device and their own headphones, bringing a completely new experience.
The Auto Guide device works based on GPS positioning technology. When the cyclo passes by a tourist attraction, the device will automatically activate the commentary, providing historical and cultural stories and detailed introductions about the place where the tourist is present in real time. This allows tourists to listen to vivid information about famous landmarks such as Dragon Bridge, APEC Park, Han River Bridge, Han Market, Da Nang Museum and Cathedral, all told vividly as if they were accompanied by a professional tour guide.
Da Nang operates Auto Guide - an AI-powered automatic commentary device, helping cyclo tourists enjoy the scenery while listening to vivid introductions about tourist attractions.
One of the most breakthroughs of this project is the integration of up to 15 different languages, including Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc. This helps to eliminate language barriers, allowing visitors from many different countries to fully understand and enjoy the beauty of Da Nang. In addition, the application also integrates an AI Chatbot, allowing visitors to interact and learn more about the destinations they are interested in. A Korean visitor after experiencing a cyclo tour along the Han River expressed his delight at sitting on an environmentally friendly vehicle and listening to the commentary in his mother tongue, considering this an extremely interesting experience.
Accordingly, when booking a cyclo tour, each tourist is equipped with an Auto Guide device that supports more than 15 languages (Vietnamese, English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese...), with a private headset throughout the journey.
To make this project a success, the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center has implemented a strict standardization and training process. 83 cyclos from the city's tourism team, which was established in 2003, were selected to participate in the project. All vehicles are designed with a uniform color and style, with stainless steel frames, cushioned seats and canopies, creating a professional and easily recognizable image.
In addition to upgrading the vehicles, special attention is also paid to the human factor. 83 cyclo drivers have undergone thorough training. They are not only instructed on how to use technological equipment but also undergo regular health checks, soft skills training, understanding of traffic laws, basic foreign language skills and extensive knowledge of tourist attractions in the city. This ensures that each trip is not only a journey of discovery but also a safe, professional and friendly experience.
Thanks to GPS positioning technology, the device will automatically activate the commentary whenever the car passes by prominent spots such as APEC Park, Dragon Bridge, Han River, Han River Bridge, Han Market, Da Nang Museum and Cathedral.
Since its launch, the project has received positive feedback and the number of customers booking cyclo with technology commentary has increased significantly. This shows the strong acceptance of the tourism market for initiatives that combine traditional and modern elements.
In addition, the application also integrates AI Chatbot so that customers can interact and learn more about destinations.
To encourage tourists to experience this new service, the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center has decided to exempt the use of Auto Guide until the end of September 2025. After this period, tourists will have to pay a small fee of about 50,000 VND/car for the commentary service, in addition to the normal fare. This fee is considered reasonable compared to the values and conveniences that technology brings.
Integrating technology into traditional means of transport such as cyclo not only helps to enhance the tourist experience but also contributes to preserving and promoting cultural values. It proves that the heritage of the past can completely exist and thrive in the digital technology context, as long as we know how to be creative and apply it appropriately. This initiative of Da Nang is expected to become a model, paving the way for similar unique combinations in the Vietnamese tourism industry.
