Cao Tri Dung, chairman of Danang Tourism Association, stated that the Han River would be a strong attraction for the city’s development, especially after Danang People’s Committee approved the Han River and East Coast Zoning Plan, spanning five districts, including Hai Chau and Son Tra districts.

The central city realises the potential of the river and its surrounding areas, Photo: Hoai Thanh

“The River of Light project, costing $16.7 million from socialised sources, will create a highlight with a lighting system along both river banks, water surface and five bridges across the Han River in the central area,” Dung said.

This will institute an irresistible attraction for tourists, promoting the local tourism economy, he added.

“In light of the plan, Danang’s centre will change its appearance at night, with the large-scale artistic lighting system performance being controlled uniformly between the bridges on the Han River, the landscape on both banks, and the light on the water surface,” said Dung.

Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Danang People’s Committee, said that the River of Light initiative was assigned to the Danang Department of Construction, which will preside over the research, craft a lighting plan for both banks of the Han River, and strengthen planning management.

“The city will have measures to effectively manage and control the lighting for construction and buildings along the river, not affecting the landscape and general lighting for two banks of the Han River, the water surface, and the bridges,” said Chinh.

Danang approved the zoning plan for the Han River and East bank in late 2023, with a total planning area of more than 6,500 hectares. Accordingly, the plan includes part of Thanh Khe, Hai Chau, and Son Tra districts (except Son Tra peninsula) and Ngu Hanh Son, known as the Marble Mountains.

This urban zoning is defined as the central area of Danang, with the total population of the entire subdivision expected to be about 484,000 people by 2030.

Regarding investment opportunities along the Han River, Tran Hong Nam, general director of Ha Son Nam JSC, said that in light of Danang’s development strategy along the Han River, a raft of large-scale projects will appear.

“Available land along the Han River is extremely rare now, with many prime locations already having owners, yet implementation has not occurred in many areas. This is considered as room for investment capital to flow in,” Nam said.

Besides major developer Sun Group, which is expediting a prime mixed-use development along the river, a series of complex projects of other investors are now allowed to open for sale.

In early October, Danang Department of Construction announced that future housing at the Han River apartment complex is eligible for sale.

According to the department, the number of housing eligible for sale at the complex, by developer Dong Do Group JSC, encompasses 941 apartments with areas ranging from 45 square metres to nearly 265sq.m. In 2022, it was said that the apartment complex was to cost over $55 million.

Earlier, in mid-September, Cosmos Housing JSC started construction of Danang Landmark Tower, a highlight commercial centre and apartment complex project, with investment touching $66.7 million. The initiative has an area of 3,765 sq.m and is also located next to the Han River.

Danang aims to become a financial, logistics, and commercial centre of the region, which has been realised gradually through the strategy of turning Han River into a magnetic pole to pull in investment flow in the upcoming period.