On the afternoon of 16/4, the first charter flight from Vladivostok, Russia, carrying 220 passengers, landed at Da Nang International Airport. A few days prior, on the morning of 13/4, the city welcomed a flight from Astana, Kazakhstan, with 370 passengers, including 250 representatives from travel businesses, who arrived to survey the destination.

For many years, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc have been popular destinations for Russian tourists in Vietnam. However, after the pandemic, visitors from Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus) are increasingly shifting towards the central region in search of new experiences.

The first Russian visitors on a flight from Vladivostok arrive at Da Nang International Airport, afternoon 16/4. *Nguyen Dong*.

The arrival of new flights from Russia marks a significant turning point for Da Nang tourism in attracting new visitor segments. Following its merger with Quang Nam, Da Nang is not only a dynamic, modern coastal city with numerous entertainment events but also connected to heritage sites such as Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, traditional craft villages, and community-based tourism.

According to the operators' plans, the visitor reception program will run until the end of 10/2026, connecting Da Nang with 8 cities in the Russian and CIS markets. The total number of visitors expected from these markets is approximately 130,000. During the peak season, from 5 to 9, capacity could reach 11,000 visitors per month, averaging about 1,800 overnight stays, to meet high demand.

Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that to cater to these specific visitor segments, who typically have longer stays (around 6 nights for CIS, 9 nights for Russian market) and higher spending habits (staying in 3-5 star accommodations), the city's tourism sector has closely collaborated with major tour operators such as Anex Tour and Crystal Bay.

"We have implemented multiple comprehensive solutions, including organizing training courses for all types of accommodations, from 4-5 star resorts to homestays in various communes and wards, even on the island commune of Tan Hiep (Cu Lao Cham), to ensure consistent service quality and the highest food hygiene standards for welcoming visitors," Hoai An said.

Russian tourists are welcomed at Da Nang International Terminal. *Nguyen Dong*.

Additionally, Da Nang is focusing on diversifying and enhancing its festivals. Notably, after integrating destinations like Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary into its shared tourism space, the city is emphasizing heritage-themed programs. The goal is to highlight the blend of the young city's modernity with the unique cultural identity of its communes and wards, creating a distinct appeal for European visitors.

The impressive recovery of international tourism, particularly the simultaneous presence of diverse markets such as Russia, CIS, India, China, and Southeast Asia, presents new management challenges. Da Nang is exploring "market balancing" solutions to prevent cultural conflicts among international visitors and between international and domestic tourists.

Hoai An emphasized that maintaining Da Nang's reputation as a civilized tourist city is a complex undertaking. According to her, Da Nang is currently welcoming various markets with distinct characteristics. The city is collaborating with associations to gain deep insights into customer specifics, such as the Halal market for Indian visitors or the habits of Russian tourists. This understanding will inform the city's strategies for planning tourism spaces, including potentially separate zones, to create a balanced environment and avoid market conflicts at the destination.

Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism forecasts that visitor numbers for the 30/4 - 1/5 holiday this year will exceed last year's figures. The city is preparing solutions to ensure security and safety for tourists, anticipating the influx of Russian visitors during the summer of 2026.

For 2026, Da Nang aims to welcome approximately 19,1 million visitors, including 8,7 million international guests, expecting double-digit tourism growth. In the first three months alone, the city already received about 2,3 million international visitors.

In 2025, Da Nang's total overnight stays are projected to exceed 17,3 million, a 15% increase compared to 2024. This includes over 7,6 million international visitors (a 25% increase) and nearly 9,7 million domestic visitors (an 8% increase). Revenue from accommodation, food services, and travel is estimated to reach 60,000 billion VND, up over 21% from the same period.

Nguyen Dong