Da Nang
Encyclopedia
- This article is about the city. For the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
era air base, see Da Nang Air BaseDa Nang Air BaseDa Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
or Da Nang International AirportDa Nang International AirportDa Nang International Airport is located in Da Nang, the largest city in central Vietnam. It is the third international airport in the country, besides Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport , and is an important gateway to access central Vietnam.In addition to its...
.
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, on the coast of the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam or Central , formerly also known as Trung phần by Republic of Vietnam, Trung kỳ and Annam under French Indochina) is one of the three regions of Vietnam . Highlands or Tây Nguyên are often included in the Central...
; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of National Route 1A and the North-South Railway
North-South Railway, Vietnam
The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
make it a hub for transportation. It is located within 100 km of several UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s, including the Imperial City of Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, the Old Town of Hội An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, and the Mỹ Sơn ruins. The city was previously known as Cửa Hàn during early Đại Việt settlement, and as Tourane (or Turon) during the interval of French rule
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
.
Before 1997, the city was part of Quang Nam-Da Nang province. On January 1, 1997, Da Nang was separated from Quang Nam province
Quang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
to become one of five independent (centrally-controlled) municipalities in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Da Nang is listed as a first class city, and has a higher urbanization ratio than any of Vietnam's other provinces or centrally governed cities
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and five centrally governed cities existing at the same level as provinces ....
.. As of the 2009 census, Da Nang was the fifth most populated city in Vietnam.
Name
Most of the names by which Da Nang is known make reference to its position at the Han River estuary. The city's present name is generally agreed to be a Vietnamese adaptation of the ChamCham language
Cham is the language of the Cham people of Southeast Asia, and formerly the language of the kingdom of Champa in central Vietnam. A member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian family, it is spoken by 100,000 people in Vietnam and up to 220,000 people in Cambodia . There are also...
word da nak, which is translated as "opening of a large river".
Chamic languages
The Chamic languages, also known as Aceh–Chamic and Achinese–Chamic, are a group of ten languages spoken in parts of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Hainan, classified as Malayic languages in the Austronesian language family....
sources, with similar definitions, have been proposed. Inrasara (aka Phú Trạm), a researcher specializing in Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
, suggests Đà Nẵng is a variation of the Cham word daknan (lit. "the large water"); Sakaya (aka Văn Món), another Champa researcher, claims a connection with the Raglai
Raglai people
The Raglai are an ethnic group of Vietnam. They are related to the Cham, with a population of approximately 97,000...
word danang, meaning "river source". Another name given to Da Nang was Cửa Hàn (lit. "mouth of the Han
Hai Van Pass
The Hải Vân Pass , is an approximately 2 mile long mountain pass on National Road 1A in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the South China Sea, on the border of Đà Nẵng and Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, near Bach Ma National Park. Its name refers to the mists that...
.
The Chinese name, 峴港 , translates to either "port having many mussel
Mussel
The common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
s" or "port by a small but dangerous mountain". The latter interpretation is taken as a reference to nearby Son Tra Mountain
Son Tra Mountain
Son Tra Mountain , known to American soldiers during the Vietnam War as Monkey Mountain, is a mountain located on Son Tra Peninsula, in Son Tra District, Da Nang, Vietnam, overlooking the Bay of Da Nang and the South China Sea. Da Nang Port's Tien Sa Terminal is located at the base of the...
.
Other names used to refer to Da Nang include:
- Vũng Thùng, a colloquial name which survives in folk verseFolkloreFolklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. - Trà Úc, Trà Áo, Trà Sơn and Đồng Long Loan, literary names used by ConfucianConfucianismConfucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
scholars. - In Sino-Vietnamese script, used until 1945, "Đà Nẵng" is written as .
- Thái Phiên, a name used briefly after the 1945 August RevolutionAugust RevolutionOn August 19, 1945, the Việt Minh under Hồ Chí Minh began the August General Uprising Tổng Khởi Nghĩa, which was soon renamed the August Revolution . Whether or not this series of events should be called a "revolution" is disputable; what is clear is that, from August 19 onwards, demonstrations and...
, commemorating Thái PhiênThai PhienThái Phiên , was a Vietnamese scholar and revolutionary from Quang Nam Province, also known by the alias Nam Xương. He was an associate of Phan Bội Châu, and was involved in both the Vietnam Restoration League and the Dong Du movement...
, the leader of popular revolts during the 1916 Duy Tan ResistanceDuy TanEmperor Duy Tân , was a boy emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty and reigned in 9 years between 1907 and 1916. His name was Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh San and was son of the Thành Thái emperor...
.
History
The city’s origins date back to the ancient Champa KingdomChampa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
, established by Indonesian settlers in 192 AD. At its peak, the Chams’ sphere of influence stretched from Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
to Vũng Tàu
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
. Beginning with Emperor Lê Hoàn
Lê Hoàn
Lê Hoàn , posthumous name Lê Đại Hành, was a king and emperor of Đại Cồ Việt under the Anterior Lê Dynasty. He was the commander in chief of the army of Emperor Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, but he also had an illicit relationship with the Empress Dowager, dethroned Đinh Bộ Lĩnh’s heir and proclaimed himself king...
(founder of the Early Lê Dynasty), the Vietnamese policy of "southward expansion" brought Champa increasingly into conflict with their northern neighbours; this expansion eventually led to the decline and fall of the Champa Kingdom during the mid-15th century.
European contact
One of the first Europeans to visit Da Nang was Portuguese explorer António de Faria, who anchored in Da Nang in 1535. Faria was one of the first Westerners to write about the area, and through his influence Portuguese ships began to call regularly at Hội An, which was then a much more important port than Da Nang. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, French and Spanish traders and missionaries regularly made landfall at Hội AnHoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, just south of Da Nang.
Following the edict of Emperor Minh Mạng
Minh Mang
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died in 1801...
in 1835 prohibiting European vessels from making landfall or pursuing trade except at Han Port, Da Nang quickly superseded Hội An to became the largest commercial port in the central region.
In 1847, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
vessels dispatched by Admiral Cécille bombarded Da Nang, ostensibly on the grounds of persecution of Roman Catholic missionaries.
In August 1858, once again ostensibly on the grounds of religious persecution, French troops, led by Admiral Charles Rigault de Genouilly
Charles Rigault de Genouilly
Pierre-Louis-Charles Rigault de Genouilly was a nineteenth-century French admiral...
, and under the orders of Napoleon III, landed in Da Nang as part of the punitive Cochinchina Campaign
Cochinchina Campaign
The Cochinchina campaign , fought between the French and the Spanish on the one side and the Vietnamese on the other, began as a limited punitive campaign and ended as a French war of conquest...
. The French overpowered the Vietnamese stationed in Da Nang, swiftly occupying the city and Tien Sa Peninsula (now called Son Tra Peninsula). Despite their initial success, the occupying forces were quickly placed under siege by the Vietnamese army under the command of Nguyen Tri Phuong, and were eventually forced to retreat in March 1860. Conversely, however, the French were able to capture the southern stronghold of Saigon, and in June 1862 several provinces of southern Vietnam were ceded to the French as Cochinchina
Cochinchina
Cochinchina is a region encompassing the southern third of Vietnam whose principal city is Saigon. It was a French colony from 1862 to 1954. The later state of South Vietnam was created in 1954 by combining Cochinchina with southern Annam. In Vietnamese, the region is called Nam Bộ...
with the signing of the Treaty of Saigon. Through two more decades of conflict, the French gradually strengthened their hold on Vietnam, culminating in the establishment of French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
in October 1887. Two years later in 1889, the French colonists renamed the city Tourane, placing it under the control of the Governor General of Indochina. It came to be considered one of Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
’s five major cities, among Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Saigon–Cholon, Haiphong
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
, and Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
.
Vietnam War
During the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the city was home to a major air base
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
that was used by both the South Vietnamese and United States air forces. The base was considered one of the world's busiest airports during the war, reaching an average of 2,595 air traffic operations daily, more than any airport in the world at that time. The final U.S. ground combat operations in Vietnam ceased on 13 August 1972, when a residual force of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade stood down in Da Nang. B Battery 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired the final U.S. artillery round and the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment finished their final patrols. This residual force was known as "Operation Gimlet".
Geography
Da Nang is the largest city in central Vietnam and one of the country’s most important ports. Ringed by mountains on one side and the South China SeaSouth China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
on the other, Da Nang borders Thừa Thiên-Huế Province
Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thừa Thiên-Huế is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam, approximately in the center of the country. It borders Quang Tri Provice to the north and Da Nang City to the south, Laos to the west and the South China Sea to the east. The province has 128 km of coastline, 22,000 ha of...
across the Hải Vân Pass
Hai Van Pass
The Hải Vân Pass , is an approximately 2 mile long mountain pass on National Road 1A in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the South China Sea, on the border of Đà Nẵng and Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, near Bach Ma National Park. Its name refers to the mists that...
to the north, Quảng Nam Province
Quang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
to the south and west, and the ocean to the east. It is 759 km (471.6 mi) south of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, and 960 km (596.5 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
Geology and topography
Geologically, Da Nang is situated at the edge of a PaleozoicPaleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
fold belt
Fold (geology)
The term fold is used in geology when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Synsedimentary folds are those due to slumping of sedimentary material before it is lithified. Folds in rocks vary in...
known as the Truong Son Orogenic Zone
Orogeny
Orogeny refers to forces and events leading to a severe structural deformation of the Earth's crust due to the engagement of tectonic plates. Response to such engagement results in the formation of long tracts of highly deformed rock called orogens or orogenic belts...
, whose main deformation occurred during the early Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
period. Da Nang's topography is dominated by the steep Annamite mountain range
Annamite Range
The Annamite Range or the Annamese Mountains is a mountain range of eastern Indochina, which extends approximately through Laos, Vietnam, and a small area in northeast Cambodia. It is known in Vietnamese as Dãy Trường Sơn, in Lao as Xai Phou Luang , and in French as the Chaîne Annamitique...
to the north and northwest, featuring peaks ranging from 700 to 1500 m (2,296.6 to 4,921.3 ft) in height, and low-lying coastal plains with some salting to the south and east, with several white sand beaches along the coast.
Climate
Da Nang has a tropical monsoon climateTropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
with two seasons: a short wet season lasting from October through January and a long dry season lasting from February through August. Temperatures are typically high, with an annual average of 25.9 °C (78.6 °F). Temperatures are highest between June and August (averaging 33 to 34 °C (91.4 to 93.2 F)), and lowest between December and February (averaging 18 to 19 °C (64.4 to 66.2 F)). Short cold spells happen occasionally in winter, bringing even lower temperatures. The annual average for humidity is 83.4%, with highs between October and November (reaching 85–87%) and lows between June and July (reaching 76–77%). On average, Da Nang receives 2505 mm (98.6 in) of rainfall. Rainfall is typically highest between October and November (ranging from 550 to 1000 mm (21.7 to 39.4 in)) and lowest between January and April (ranging from 23 to 40 mm (0.905511811023622 to 1.6 in)). Da Nang receives an average of 2156 hours of sunlight annually, with highs between 234 and 277 hours per month in May and June and lows between 69 and 165 hours per month in November and December.
Natural disasters
Like the rest of Vietnam, Da Nang is susceptible to damage from typhoons that cross into the South China Sea. In 2006, the landfall of Typhoon XangsaneTyphoon Xangsane
The name Xangsane has been used to name two tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The name was contributed by Laos and is a Laotian word for elephant.* 2000's Typhoon Xangsane - affected the Philippines and Taiwan....
near the city of Hue caused 26 deaths in Da Nang, damaging and destroying homes, downing trees and power lines and flooding major streets. Authorities in Da Nang estimated the damage caused by Xangsane at around US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
200 million, with more than 5,000 houses washed away, 166,000 homes damaged and 19 boats sunk. Three years later, Typhoon Ketsana made its landfall about 37 miles (59.5 km) south of Da Nang, once again causing widespread flooding. Ketsana left eight people dead and 96 injured in Da Nang, and caused an estimated VND 495 billion (US$25 million) in damage.
Shortly after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which triggered a powerful tsunami, the People's Committee of Da Nang approved the installation of 10 early tsunami warning stations throughout the city, the first of their kind in Vietnam. Officials expected the stations would provide at least thirty minutes of warning in case of a tsunami. According to Le Huy Minh, Director of the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre at the Vietnam Institute of Geophysics, a powerful earthquake (≥8 MW
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
) in the waters north of the Philippines could pose a significant danger to the Vietnamese coastline, particularly the area around Da Nang.
Demographics
Da Nang is the fifth most populated city in Vietnam, with an area of 1,255.53 km² and a population of 887,069 according to the 2009 census. Women make up 50.7% of Đà Nẵng's population.Population growth
As of the 2009 census, Da Nang's average annual population growth rate was given as 2.6%, the highest in the North and South Central Coast regions and the sixth highest in the country, behind Binh Duong
Binh Duong Province
Bình Dương is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. The province was created from Song Be province on January 1, 1997.-Geography:...
(with 7.3%), Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
(3.5%), Kon Tum
Kon Tum Province
Kon Tum province lies in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam and shares borders with Laos and Cambodia. It has an area of 9,934 square km and a population of approximately 330,000. The economy is primarily agricultural.-Name:...
(3.1%), Binh Phuoc
Binh Phuoc Province
Bình Phước is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern region of the country, to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. It shares a border with Cambodia.-History:...
(2.9%), and Gia Lai
Gia Lai Province
Gia Lai is a province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.-Administrative divisions:The province is divided into one city , two towns , and 13 districts:#Chư Păh#Chư Prông#Chư Sê#Đắk Đoa#Đắk Pơ#Đức Cơ#Ia Grai#Ia Pa...
(2.7%). Đà Nẵng's crude birth rate was recorded at 18.6 live birth
Live birth
In human reproduction, a live birth occurs when a fetus, whatever its gestational age, exits the maternal body and subsequently shows any sign of life, such as voluntary movement, heartbeat, or pulsation of the umbilical cord, for however brief a time and regardless of whether the umbilical cord or...
s per 1000 persons; the crude death rate was measured at 6.7 per 1000 persons. Life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
at birth was estimated at 77.4 years for women and 72.4 years for men, or 74.8 years overall. The infant mortality rate was measured at 11.0 infant deaths per 1000 live births, less than two points above the nation's average for urban areas. In the same census, the city's immigration and emigration rates were measured at 10.06% and 2.4%, respectively, for a net migration rate
Net migration rate
Net migration rate is the difference of immigrants and emigrants of an area in a period of time, divided per 1,000 inhabitants...
of 7.7%. Đà Nẵng's population is estimated to reach one million inhabitants in 2014.
Urbanization
The city has the highest urbanization ratio among provinces and municipalities in Vietnam
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and five centrally governed cities existing at the same level as provinces ....
, containing only 11 rural communes
Rural commune (Vietnam)
|A rural commune is a third-level administrative subdivision of Vietnam. Rural communes are subdivisions of counties , which are in turn subdivisions of provinces ....
, the fewest of any province-level unit in Vietnam. As of 2009, 86.9% of Đà Nẵng's population lived in urban areas; average annual urban population growth was 3.5%.
Administrative divisions
The city is divided into seven mainland districts and one island district: Cẩm LệCam Le
Cẩm Lệ is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 71,429. The district covers an area of 33.3 km². The district capital lies at . The district was established by Government Decree No. 102/2005/ND-CP on August 5, 2005...
, Hải Châu
Hai Chau
Hai Chau is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. This is the administrative, cultural, commercial of this city...
, Hòa Vang
Hoa Vang
Hòa Vang is a district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 106,746. The district covers an area of 708 km²...
, Liên Chiểu
Lien Chieu
Liên Chiểu is an urban urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of . The district covers an area of 76 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang....
, Ngũ Hành Sơn
Marble Mountains (Vietnam)
Marble Mountains is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five 'mountains' are named after the five elements; Kim , Thuy , Moc , Hoa and Tho ....
, Sơn Trà
Son Tra
Sơn Trà is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 112,196. The district covers an area of 60 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang ....
, Thanh Khê
Thanh Khe
Thanh Khê is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 160,953. The district covers an area of 9 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang....
, and Hoàng Sa (Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...
).
Before 1997, the city was part of Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng province. On January 1, 1997, Đà Nẵng was separated from Quảng Nam Province
Quang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
to become one of five independent (centrally-controlled) municipalities in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
| District | Subdivisions | Area | Population (2007) | Pop. density | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km²) | (mile²) | (persons/km²) | (persons/mile²) | ||
| Cẩm Lệ Cam Le Cẩm Lệ is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 71,429. The district covers an area of 33.3 km². The district capital lies at . The district was established by Government Decree No. 102/2005/ND-CP on August 5, 2005... |
6 wards Ward (Vietnam) |In Vietnam, there are three kinds of the third-level administrative subdivision: the rural coummune , commune-level town ，and ward .... |
33.3 | 12.9 | 68,320 | 2054.74 PD/km2 |
| Hải Châu Hai Chau Hai Chau is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. This is the administrative, cultural, commercial of this city... |
13 wards | 24.1 | 9.3 | 195,106 | 9251.11 PD/km2 |
| Hòa Vang Hoa Vang Hòa Vang is a district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 106,746. The district covers an area of 708 km²... |
14 communes Rural commune (Vietnam) |A rural commune is a third-level administrative subdivision of Vietnam. Rural communes are subdivisions of counties , which are in turn subdivisions of provinces .... , 1 township Commune-level town (Vietnam) |A commune-level town is a third-level administrative subdivision of Vietnam. Commune-level towns are subdivisions of counties , which are in turn subdivisions of provinces .... |
737.5 | 284.8 | 106,910 | 151.14 PD/km2 |
| Liên Chiểu Lien Chieu Liên Chiểu is an urban urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of . The district covers an area of 76 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang.... |
5 wards | 83.1 | 32.1 | 95,088 | 1144.54 PD/km2 |
| Ngũ Hành Sơn | 4 wards | 36.5 | 14.1 | 54,066 | 1476.41 PD/km2 |
| Sơn Trà Son Tra Sơn Trà is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 112,196. The district covers an area of 60 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang .... |
7 wards | 60.8 | 23.5 | 119,969 | 1970.58 PD/km2 |
| Thanh Khê Thanh Khe Thanh Khê is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 160,953. The district covers an area of 9 km². The district capital lies at Da Nang.... |
10 wards | 9.3 | 3.6 | 167,287 | 18046.06 PD/km2 |
| Hoàng Sa | — | 305 | 117.8 | 0 | 0 PD/km2 |
| Total | 45 wards, 14 communes, 1 township | 1479.1 | 571.1 | 806,744 | 628.58 PD/km2 |
Economy
Đà Nẵng is the leading industrial center of central Vietnam. Its GDP per capita was 19 million VND in 2007, one of the highest in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(after Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Binh Duong Province
Binh Duong Province
Bình Dương is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. The province was created from Song Be province on January 1, 1997.-Geography:...
, and Dong Nai Province). By 2009, this had increased to 27.3 million VND. Đà Nẵng has been leading the Provincial Competitiveness Index rankings in 2008, 2009, and 2010 (and was second after Binh Duong Province
Binh Duong Province
Bình Dương is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. The province was created from Song Be province on January 1, 1997.-Geography:...
in the three years before that), benefiting mostly from good infrastructure, good performance in labour training, transparency, proactive provincial leadership and low entry costs.
| Exports | million US$ (2007) | Imports | million US$ (2007) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 469.6 | Total | 522.1 |
| Textiles | 139.8 | Machinery, equipment | 237.2 |
| Aquatic products | 75.2 | Materials for garments | 77 |
| Handicraft products | 51.6 | Iron, steel | 41.6 |
| Coffee | 47.6 | Medicaments | 24.9 |
| Footwear | 17.7 | Chemical fertilizer | 22.5 |
| Rice | 8 | Motorbikes | 0.45 |
Exports increased to 575 million US$ in 2008, but fell back to 475 million US$ in 2009.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
Despite its status as a city, 37,800 people in Đà Nẵng were employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing as of 2007, producing 45,000t of rice and 41,000t of fish. However, employment in these sectors had a clear negative trend in the first decade of the 21st century. Gross outputGross Output
Gross output is an economic concept used in national accounts such as the United Nations System of National Accounts and the US National Income and Product Accounts...
has also been decreasing in the second half of the decade. Given Đà Nẵng's lack of agricultural land (9200ha as of 2007) and its location at the coast, fishing has been contributing more to the economy than agriculture, with a gross output that is more than twice that of agriculture.
Industry
Đà Nẵng is a diversified industrial center, including industries such as machinery, electrics, chemicals, shipbuilding, and textiles. Some specific industrial products are processed aquatic products, fabric, clothes, bricks, fertilizer, cement, soap, paper, and medical tablets. The city's industry may diversify further. EADSEADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
is planning to set up an industrial park focused on the aviation industry in Đà Nẵng.
As of 2007, Đà Nẵng industry was dominated by the state sector, which made up 57% of gross output
Gross Output
Gross output is an economic concept used in national accounts such as the United Nations System of National Accounts and the US National Income and Product Accounts...
. This is about the same as its share in 2000. Interestingly, over 80% of the state industry is centrally managed (in other words: belongs to state corporations headquartered in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
). Almost half of the rest is contributed by the foreign-invested sector, while the private domestic sector is still relatively small and has not been able to significantly increase its share compared to the state sector.
Industry grew by an average 14.8% per year from 2000 to 2007, making it the main engine of economic growth. However, it is the second lowest growth rate of industry in the South Central Coast
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
(after Khanh Hoa Province
Khanh Hoa Province
Khánh Hòa is a province of Vietnam, located in the South Central Coast. It has a population of 1,066,300 and spans an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang...
). Employment has grown at an average 5.75%, reaching 118,900 in 2007.
Trade
Historically, Đà Nẵng’s main marketplace has been Hàn Market , which is located downtown near the western bank of the Hàn River, between Tran Phu and Bach Dang streets. This market, much like Ben Thanh MarketBen Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is a big marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in District 1...
in Saigon, offers a wide variety of goods sold by many different vendors, such as clothing, silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, jewellery, flowers, foodstuffs such as dried fruit
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized...
and fish, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, tea and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
(including Vietnamese snake wine
Snake Wine
Snake wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by infusing whole snakes in rice wine or grain alcohol. The drink was first recorded to have been consumed in China during the Western Zhou dynasty and considered an important curative and believed to reinvigorate a person according to Traditional...
), and so on.
Property
Many new construction projects are underway in Da Nang, including several beachfront resorts such as the US$130 million Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa, and the Beach Resort complex (including Ocean Villas and Marriott Hotel) in Ngu Hanh Son District. Another ambitious project, the US$250 million Da Phuoc International New Town aims to construct an entirely new urban area on reclaimed land on the city's north sea coast, making it the first major land reclamationLand reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
project in Central Vietnam. Plans for the Da Phuoc project include the erection of a hotel and several smaller resorts, a 33-story apartment block and 60-story office block, an 18-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
, as well as villas and international schools.
Tourism
The tourism sector is a vital component of Da Nang's economy. Its status as a transportation hub for Central Vietnam and its proximity to several UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s, including the Imperial City of Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, the Old Town of Hội An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, and the Mỹ Sơn ruins fuels much of its tourist activity.
Mỹ Sơn is a remarkable archaeological site dating back more than a thousand years, in Quang Nam Province
Quang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
. Located in a remote forested valley some 70 km west of Đà Nẵng, this former capital and religious center of the Champa kingdom once contained in excess of 70 style temples and stupas. Although badly damaged by bombing raids in the 1960s, the site still has more than 20 structures and was declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 1999. Many statues, sculptures and reliefs recovered from Mỹ Sơn are kept in the Museum of Cham Sculpture
Museum of Cham Sculpture
The Museum of Cham Sculpture is a museum located in Hai Chau district, Đà Nẵng, central Vietnam. The museum was founded in 1915 as the Musée Henri Parmentier during the colonial French era to preserve the finds of the ancient Champa kingdom and is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to...
, near the Han River in the heart of Đà Nẵng. Dating from the fourth to the 14th centuries, the sensual artwork on these works depicts daily activities as well as Hindu and Buddhist religious themes. The museum itself is housed in a beautiful French colonial style villa with open-air courtyards, fruit trees and bougainvillea.
The Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains (Vietnam)
Marble Mountains is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five 'mountains' are named after the five elements; Kim , Thuy , Moc , Hoa and Tho ....
are rocky limestone outcrops jutting out of the beach just south of Đà Nẵng. Paths lead to the top of the forested cliffs, affording spectacular views of Non Nuoc Beach and the East Sea. The caves nestled in the cliffs were originally inhabited by the Cham people. Later, Vietnamese under the Nguyễn Dynasty built numerous pagodas amongst the caves. Today, the Marble Mountains are home to various artisans producing sculpture and artwork at its base.
Non Nuoc Beach is a white sandy beach on the outskirts of Đà Nẵng is renowned for both its spectacular beauty and for its history as an R&R destination for American troops during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, when it was known as "China Beach". Today, the beach, along with My Khe beach to the north, are home to expensive resorts, surfing and entertainment facilities.
Bà Nà Hills
Bà Nà Hills
Bà Nà Hill Station is a hill station and resort located in the Truong Son Mountains west of the city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam. The station, advertised as "the Dalat of Danang province" by local tourism authorities, was founded in 1919 by French colonists...
is a mountain resort with a 5 km-long cable car
Cable car
A cable car is any of a variety of transportation systems relying on cables to pull vehicles along or lower them at a steady rate, or a vehicle on these systems.-Aerial lift:Aerial lifts where the vehicle is suspended in the air from a cable:...
system which carries guests up to Bà Nà's peak at 1487m above sea level. Visitors will enjoy the cool climate at the summit due to the elevation difference.
Son Tra Mountain
Son Tra Mountain
Son Tra Mountain , known to American soldiers during the Vietnam War as Monkey Mountain, is a mountain located on Son Tra Peninsula, in Son Tra District, Da Nang, Vietnam, overlooking the Bay of Da Nang and the South China Sea. Da Nang Port's Tien Sa Terminal is located at the base of the...
, just some miles away from downtown with some wild streams and resorts along the seaside.
Sports
Ðà Nẵng's football club, SHB Ðà Nẵng F.C., plays in the V-LeagueV-League
The number of foreign players is restricted to five per team. A team could use three foreigners on the field each game.As 2009 statistics, about half of V-League foreign players are Brazilian and the rest come from Argentina, Nigeria, Ghana, Czech Republic, Thailand and others.-Attendance:V-League...
, Vietnam's top professional football league. They are currently one of the most highly ranked teams in that league, having emerged from competition as champions of the 2009 V-League. In the same year, they were also champions at the Vietnamese Cup
Vietnamese Cup
The Vietnamese Cup is an annual soccer competition in Vietnam. It is one of the three major Vietnamese clubs competitions held by the Vietnam Football Federation , and has existed since 1992- Past results :-See also:* Football in Vietnam...
playoffs. They also qualified for the 2010 AFC Champions League and the 2010 AFC Cup; although they did not advance past the qualifying play-off
2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off
Seven teams contested in the 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off. The two winners advanced to the 2010 AFC Champions League group stage. The losers entered the 2010 AFC Cup group stage.-East Asia:-West Asia:-Semi-final Round:----...
in the Champions League, they advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup after defeating Becamex Bình Dương
Bình Duong F.C.
Becamex Binh Duong is a Vietnamese football club based in Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam and currently plays in Vietnam's top division, the V-League.The team plays at Go Dau Stadium, Thu Dau Mot...
in extra time. Several Ðà Nẵng F.C. players also play on Vietnam's national football team
Vietnam national football team
The Vietnam national football team is the national football team representing Vietnam and is managed by the Vietnam Football Federation.In the FIFA World Rankings, Vietnam's highest standing was in the first release of the figures, in September 1998, at 84th...
, including defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Võ Hoàng Quảng and midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Phan Thanh Hưng. SHB Ðà Nẵng F.C. plays its home games at the Chi Lang Stadium, a 30,000-seat stadium in Hải Châu
Hai Chau
Hai Chau is an urban district of Da Nang in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. This is the administrative, cultural, commercial of this city...
District. Their manager is Lê Huỳnh Đức.
Education
There are several universities located in Da Nang, with campuses in many locations throughout the city, as well as satellite campuses in surrounding regions.- Duy Tan UniversityDuy Tan UniversityDuy Tan University is located in the heart of Da Nang city, the biggest city in the central region of Vietnam....
- University of Da NangThe University of Da NangAs a regional multi-disciplinary university, a center for training and research, a center for culture and a terminal for cultural exchange in Central Vietnam, the University of Đà Nẵng has the following missions:...
, with a number of member colleges:- Da Nang University of Technology
- Da Nang University of EconomicsDa Nang University of EconomicsThe Đà Nẵng University of Economics is located in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam . It is a member of the University of Đà Nẵng. The predecessor was Đà Nẵng Polytechnic University, a public university established in 1976...
- Da Nang University of Pedagogy
- Da Nang University of Foreign Languages
- Da Nang University of Engineering
- Da Nang University of Information Technology
- Campus of the University of Da Nang in Kon Tum
- Institute of English Language, University of Da Nang
- Da Nang University of Architecture
- Da Nang Sports and Physical Exercises University
Health
Da Nang has a number of hospitals, including:- Da Nang Hospital
- Da Nang C Hospital
- Da Nang Women's Hospital
- Da Nang Hospital of Dermatology and Venerology
- Da Nang Hospital of Traditional Medicine
Curiously, acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome , also known as respiratory distress syndrome or adult respiratory distress syndrome is a serious reaction to various forms of injuries to the lung....
(ARDS) is also known as "Da Nang lung", since many cases occurring during the Vietnam War were treated at a medical centre in Da Nang.
Transportation
Đà Nẵng is on the end of the East-West Economic CorridorEast-West Economic Corridor
East-West Economic is an economic development program initiated in 1998 by the Ministerial Conference of Greater Mekong Subregion organized in Manila, the Philippines in order to promote development and integration of four countries, namely: Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam...
(EWEC) which stretches over Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
.
By air
Đà Nẵng International AirportDa Nang International Airport
Da Nang International Airport is located in Da Nang, the largest city in central Vietnam. It is the third international airport in the country, besides Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport , and is an important gateway to access central Vietnam.In addition to its...
, located at the center of the city, is the third largest international airport in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is an important gateway to access central Vietnam. The airport was known as Đà Nẵng Air Base
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, during which time it was described as the world's busiest airport. During the month of May 1968, the base reached an average of 2,595 air traffic operations daily, more than any airport in the world. As of June 2011, the airport has domestic connections to Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Hai Phong , Buon Ma Thuot
Buon Ma Thuot
Buôn Ma Thuột or sometimes Buon Ma Thuat or Ban Mê Thuột, is the capital city of Dak Lak Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Its population is approximately 300,000...
, Da Lat, Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
, and Pleiku
Pleiku
Pleiku is a town in central Vietnam, located in that nation's central highland region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province; it is inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or Degar....
, as well as international connections to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
(People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
), Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
(Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
), Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
(Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
). Beginning on 16th Dec 2011, Malaysian low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
Air Asia plans to offer four flights a week between Da Nang and Kuala Lumpur. A new international terminal is currently under construction, which is expected to allow further connections to destinations such as Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
(Cambodia), Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The new terminal is expected to be completed by 31 December 2011, opening to receive its first (domestic) flight on 12 December.
By land
Đà Nẵng is a major station along the North-South RailwayNorth-South Railway, Vietnam
The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
, also known as the Reunification Express. National Highways 1A and 14B run through the city, providing road connections to Ha Noi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
in the south, as well as the Central Highlands and Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
to the west. The Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass
The Hải Vân Pass , is an approximately 2 mile long mountain pass on National Road 1A in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the South China Sea, on the border of Đà Nẵng and Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, near Bach Ma National Park. Its name refers to the mists that...
is a mountain pass separating Đà Nẵng and Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thừa Thiên-Huế is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam, approximately in the center of the country. It borders Quang Tri Provice to the north and Da Nang City to the south, Laos to the west and the South China Sea to the east. The province has 128 km of coastline, 22,000 ha of...
, where Highway 1A road passes through. To cut down on transit time and the danger to motorists from navigating the twisting mountain road, the Hai Van Tunnel
Hai Van Tunnel
The Hai Van Tunnel, the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia at 6.28km, lies on highway 1 between the two cities of Danang and Huế in central Vietnam.-History:The Hai Van Pass has long been recognised as a major bottleneck...
was built, opening in 2005. It is the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
at 6.28 km, and allows motorists to save between 30 minutes and an hour on traveling times over the old Hai Van Pass route. An expressway
Controlled-access highway
A controlled-access highway is a highway designed exclusively for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated...
between Đà Nẵng and nearby Quang Ngai is also in the planning stages.
Several bridges cross the Han River and its tributaries in Đà Nẵng, including the iconic Han River Bridge
Han River Bridge
Han River bridge is in Da Nang, Vietnam. Danang lies on the west side of the Han River and the beaches are to the east. The Song Han Bridge helps tourists to travel from their hotels to the area's beaches....
, Tran Thi Ly Bridge
Tran Thi Ly Bridge
Tran Thi Ly Bridge is a bridge spanning the Han River in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam....
, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge
Nguyen Van Troi Bridge
Nguyen Van Troi Bridge is a bridge spanning the Han River in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam....
, Tuyen Son Bridge
Tuyen Son Bridge
Tuyen Son Bridge is a bridge spanning the Han River in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam....
and the recently-completed Thuan Phuoc Bridge
Thuan Phuoc Bridge
The Thuan Phuoc Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the lower Han River at Da Nang, Vietnam.The four-lane, three-span, bridge is 1,850 meters long and 18 meters wide, and has a main span of 405 meters. Its two major pillars are 80m in height. It is the longest suspension bridge in Vietnam,...
, which is the longest suspension bridge in Vietnam. The Dragon River Bridge
Dragon River Bridge
The Dragon River Bridge is a bridge under construction over the Han River at Da Nang, Vietnam.Construction of the bridge began on 19 July 2009 when the Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung and many high-ranking government officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony.Dragon River Bridge...
, currently under construction, will cross the Han River at the Le Dinh Duong/Bach Dang roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
, offering tourists coming from Đà Nẵng International Airport a more direct route to My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach, on the eastern edge of the city.
By sea
Đà Nẵng's port system is the third largest in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
and Hai Phong. In 2008, Đà Nẵng Port handled 2.7 million tons of cargo, of which 1.2 million tons were exports, 525,900 tons were imports, and 985,600 tons were domestic cargo. Over 29,600 passengers passed through the port in 2008, a significant increase over previous years. The port system consists of two areas: Tien Sa Seaport, and Song Han Terminal. Tien Sa Seaport has a navigation depth of 11m, and is able to receive medium range tankers of up to 45,000 DWT
Deadweight tonnage
Deadweight tonnage is a measure of how much weight a ship is carrying or can safely carry. It is the sum of the weights of cargo, fuel, fresh water, ballast water, provisions, passengers, and crew...
, as well as container ships and large cruise ships. The approach to Song Han Terminal is 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) long with a navigation depth of 6-7m, and can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 DWT. Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) is the port authority for Đà Nẵng’s port system.
Despite the fact that the port’s infrastructure is not specifically designed to accommodate cruise ships, the number of large cruise ships docking at Đà Nẵng Port has increased in recent years. In the first two months of 2010 alone, 12 cruise ships docked in Đà Nẵng, carrying 6,477 passengers.
Sister cities
KawasakiKawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Iwaki
Iwaki, Fukushima
is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Shizuoka
Shizuoka, Shizuoka
is the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and the prefecture's second-largest city in terms of both population and area. It became one of Japan's 19 "designated cities" in 2005.-Geography:...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Kagoshima, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
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Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Hai Phong, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
Oakland, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Tacoma, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Riverside
Riverside, California
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, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
San Francisco, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jersey City, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Pittsburgh, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. It is one of the Golden Ring cities, a group of historic cities...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Media references
- Daughter from Đà NẵngDaughter from DanangDaughter from Đà Nẵng is a 2002 documentary film about an Amerasian, Heidi Bub , born on December 10, 1968, in Danang in southern Vietnam, one of the children brought to the United States from Vietnam in 1975 during "Operation Babylift" at the end of the Vietnam War.Heidi's father was an American...
is a 2002 award-winning documentary film about an Amerasian woman who returns to visit her biological family in Đà Nẵng after 22 years of separation and living in the United States. - Nikita MeersNikita (Nikita character)Nikita Meers, better known as Nikita, is the primary protagonist and eponymous character of Nikita, an American action and drama television series, which debuted in September 2010 on The CW Television Network. She is played by American actress Maggie Q...
of the CWThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
program NikitaNikita (TV series)La Femme Nikita is a Canadian action/drama television series based on the French film Nikita by Luc Besson. The series was co-produced by Jay Firestone of Fireworks Entertainment and Warner Brothers. It was adapted for television by Joel Surnow...
is revealed to have been born in Đà Nẵng upon discovering her true parents.