Boats dock in the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng. The central city has launched a photo contest for Koreans living in Việt Nam and abroad to boost tourism in the post-COVID-19 era. —- VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city’s tourism promotion centre, in co-operation with HanaTour company, has launched an Instagram photo contest, "Đà Nẵng in My Heart", for Koreans living in Việt Nam and abroad.

The contest which will run until December 20 is part of a post-COVID-19 tourism recovery plan to boost travel among Korean tourists.

The director of the centre, Nguyễn Thị Hoài An, said the photo contest aims to highlight attractive images of Đà Nẵng to Korean tourists through social media networks, luring them to the central city as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. 

A fireworks performance over the Hàn River during the International Đà Nẵng Fireworks Festival. The city is a favourite destination for South Korean tourists. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Lâm

South Koreans who have visited Đà Nẵng in the past can post their favourite photos or clips to Instagram to take part in the contest. Koreans who have yet visited Đà Nẵng can still enter by creating images of Đà Nẵng and sharing how they feel about the city. 

The best 26 entries will be selected as winners at the end of December.

The winner of the top prize – the Đà Nẵng Fantastic Heart – will receive an award worth 300,000 won (US$254) and a package tour for two to Đà Nẵng City, offered by HanaTour.

Mỹ Khê beach hosts a summer festival in Đà Nẵng. The pristine beach is an ideal site for vacations in central Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Công Thành

The winners of the five ‘Đà Nẵng Heart’ awards will be given 100,000 won ($85) each, while 20 'Thank You' coupons worth 20,000 won ($17) each will be presented to other winners in the top 26 list.

A one night stay for two at the five-star beach-front Furama Đà Nẵng Resort will also be up for grabs.

South Korean tourists account for 55.4 per cent of international tourists in the central city. 

Đà Nẵng's food is introduced at a tourism promotion event in the city. — Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng Tourism Promotion Centre

In 2014, both Vietnamese and South Korean budget airlines launched 12 direct and chartered flights between Korean cities and Đà Nẵng, carrying around 1,500 passengers a week.

South Korea inaugurated its Consulate General in Đà Nẵng in 2020, boosting tourism and investment between South Korea and central Việt Nam.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily stopped South Korean tourists from coming to Đà Nẵng, the coastal central city is still a favourite destination for Koreans. At least 1.8 million Korean tourists visited the city in 2019.

HanaTour Director Ryu Bong Ki said he is expecting a plan from the Vietnamese and Đà Nẵng authorities to host foreign tourists in the post-COVID-19 era.

He said HanaTour will build detailed tour programmes to bring South Korean tourists to Đà Nẵng in the coming time.

Đà Nẵng is a good, central connection to visit world heritage sites in Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces from destinations such Jeju Island, Incheon, Seoul and other parts of South Korea.

The Shilla Hotels & Resorts – a Korean resort – has launched the five-star Shilla Monogram Đà Nẵng to serve Korean tourists in Đà Nẵng and Hội An. 

Art troupes from Việt Nam and South Korea often host joint performances in Đà Nẵng and Hội An in annual culture exchange events. 

Participants can find information at the contest’s website: danangfantasticity.com/dananginmyheart. — VNS