Learning and following Uncle Ho's example, igniting pride and the aspiration for growth, and upholding the principle that the people are both the driving force and the centre, Da Nang has steadily risen, affirming its role as a dynamic, innovative and livable coastal city.

The city of "five no's, three yes's, four safeties"

Fifty years after liberation, Da Nang has grown into a modern urban area by the Han River. Locals take pride in their city being called a "livable city" with the motto "five no's, three yes's, four safeties" (five no's: no hungry households, no illiteracy, no beggars, no drug addicts in the community, no street children; three yes's: housing, employment, and a civilised urban lifestyle; four safeties: public order and security, traffic safety, food safety, and social security).

The strong commitments of the Party committees and local authorities regarding these mottos have been proven through the creation of a safe environment where residents’ lives are protected, stable, and sustainably developed. The programme's effectiveness is reflected in notable figures: significant reduction in poverty rates and school dropouts; improved public order; and a civilised, friendly living environment attracting tourists and investors to Da Nang.

Sharing community-focused models, Nguyen Huy Binh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phuoc My Ward (Son Tra District), said the ward encourages residents to participate in urban civilised development movements, crime prevention and denunciation.

Over nearly a decade, numerous initiatives promoting the "five no's, three yes's, four safeties" philosophy have spread compassion, helping the poor and disadvantaged students, such as: "Continuing school for children", "Adoptive mothers", and job training and introduction for around 900 workers annually. Phuoc My Ward's practical and effective approach has been recognised and scaled up by the Da Nang City Party Committee.

The city’s movement for urban civility has also yielded positive results in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.

According to the Da Nang City People’s Committee, the city has implemented distinct humanitarian measures alongside cultural, economic, and social policy breakthroughs. For example, elderly citizens aged 75 to under 80 without pensions or regular allowances receive 400,000 VND/month and are entitled to health insurance and funeral expense support; citizens aged 60 to under 75 from average-income households receive 100% support for household-based health insurance contributions.

Since 2022, Da Nang has waived all tuition fees from preschool to high school and for students at vocational education institutions. By the end of 2023, the city had completed nearly 14,000 social housing units for low-income earners and two student dormitory projects with 1,146 rooms; it also converted two dormitory projects into social housing for workers with 728 units.

Connected spaces and innovation

Leveraging special mechanisms and policies from the central government, Da Nang has proactively established modern infrastructure across transport, urban planning, tourism, and industry. Key projects such as the Dragon Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Hai Van Tunnel, Tien Sa Port, and Da Nang International Airport are symbols of the city, positioning it as a unique, attractive destination for tourists and investors.

The city's innovation policies have fostered a dynamic and promising environment. National Assembly Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 dated June 26, 2024 on urban governance and piloting several special mechanisms and policies for Da Nang’s development opens new opportunities in institutional reform, investment attraction, innovation, and improving citizens' quality of life.

According to Ho Ky Minh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 includes two groups of special mechanisms and 30 specific breakthrough policies. These provide a "runway" for Da Nang to take off, granting greater financial autonomy to drive economic growth and benefits across the Central and Central Highlands regions.

These special policies act as a catalyst to resolve bottlenecks in governance, unlock development resources, and guide Da Nang towards becoming a logistics, financial, and international commercial hub, gradually realising its vision of a modern, smart city amid deep international integration.

Through the comprehensive implementation of advanced technological solutions, Da Nang is steadily asserting itself as one of the country’s leading smart cities. The "Da Nang smart city" app integrates multiple digital services, allowing residents to report issues and access information, increasing public participation in urban management.

The Intelligent Operations Centre (IOC), combined with 100% availability of level 3 and 4 online public services for residents and businesses, has helped place Da Nang at the top of national rankings in administrative reform, IT readiness, e-government implementation, and provincial competitiveness.

Aligned with the Action Programme to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the Da Nang Party Committee aims by 2030 to reach advanced levels of scientific, technological, and innovation capacity, ranking among the top five localities in Southeast Asia. The goal is to complete the construction of a smart city integrated with domestic and regional smart urban networks.

The policy of merging the administrative boundaries of Da Nang and Quang Nam will create greater development space. During a recent visit and working session with the Standing Committees of both localities, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasised the importance of human values associated with the "five highs" (high knowledge, high culture, high income, high governance, and high standard of living) to develop the new Da Nang – Quang Nam into a growth pole of Viet Nam with strong competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the Partt General Secretary, Da Nang should be positioned as a "national centre for innovation, high technology, and start-ups". After the merger, it should not only remain a livable city but become a pioneering, innovative, and leading city that continues to build upon its special development orientations and mechanisms to rise to national and international prominence.