Maximizing potential and advantages
Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s six Central cities and one of 28 coastal provinces and cities, with a deep-water seaport favorable for comprehensive marine economic development. Over the years, alongside the State’s policies, Da Nang has issued and implemented various local policies to support fishermen in fishing offshore, linking fishing with safeguarding national maritime sovereignty and security.
To enable fishermen to build new, high-capacity, and modernly equipped ships for offshore fishing, the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee issued decision No.7068/QD-UBND and decision No.47/2014/QD-UBND on supporting the construction of fishing and service boats. Accordingly, fishermen building ships with capacities from 400 to under 600 horsepower received funding of VND 500 million per ship. Ships with capacities from 600 to under 800 horsepower and above 800 horsepower were provided with VND 600 million and VND 800 million, respectively. Between 2012 and 2019, under this policy, Da Nang supported the construction of 184 fishing ships with a capacity of 400 horsepower or more, totaling over VND 120 billion.
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Unloading goods at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang city |
After achieving its target number of offshore fishing ships, on February 1, 2019, Da Nang ended its new ship construction support policy. Subsequently, on July 11, 2019, the municipal People’s Council issued Resolution No.255/2019/NQ-HDND on supporting fishing in the city in the 2019-2025 period. This includes 40% support for ship hull insurance costs in addition to the 50% supported by central policies; 100% support for purchasing and installing journey monitoring equipment and the first-year subscription fee; 50% support for equipping machinery used in seafood preservation and exploitation. From 2019 to present, the city has approved nearly VND 959 billion in support for ship owners.
At present, Da Nang has 1,553 fishing ships (each over 6m in length), of which 818 are offshore/midshore (52.67%) and 735 are inshore (47.33%). In 2024, seafood production reached 39,170 tons (up 6.4% from 2023). The average annual growth in seafood output during 2021 - 2024 was 1.4%. Fishing has long been the spearhead of the city's aquaculture sector, making a key contribution to the added value of Da Nang’s agro-forestry-fisheries sector.
Da Nang has also made synchronous investments in fishery logistics, gradually building modern, well-organized fishing ports, markets, and mooring areas associated with tourism development at Tho Quang Fishing Port. According to Vice Chairman of the municipal Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, the city is accelerating the implementation of Phase 2 of the project of upgrading and renovating Tho Quang Fishing Port with an investment of VND 250 billion. For infrastructure synchronization, Da Nang is preparing a report on the feasibility for Phase 3 to submit to the Government for approval.
Implementing comprehensive solutions
According to decision No.70/QD-UBND dated January 11, 2024, on the plan on implementing the Government’s Resolution No.48/NQ-CP dated April 3, 2023, on the strategy for sustainable exploitation, use of marine resources, and environmental protection through 2030 with a vision to 2050, Da Nang sets the overall goal for 2030 to become “a major national marine economic center,” and the vision to 2050 as “an international coastal city based on green growth, preserved marine biodiversity, a clean marine and island environment, and a society in harmony with nature.”
The Central city prioritizes sustainable development of marine economic sectors in the following order: marine tourism and services, maritime economy, seafood exploitation, renewable energy and emerging marine economic sectors, coastal industries, exploitation of other marine resources and minerals. The contribution of marine-based industries to Da Nang’s GRDP is targeted to reach 10% by 2025 and 15% by 2030.
To realize these goals, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Bui Tat Thang, former Director of the Institute for Development Strategy, suggested that based on national marine spatial planning and the overall coastal resource exploitation strategy (approved by the National Assembly under Resolution No.139/2024/QH15 and by the Prime Minister under Decision No.1117/QD-TTg dated October 7, 2024), Da Nang should urgently zone and define functions of its marine space as a foundation for effective marine management.
Marine tourism and services play a leading role in the development of Da Nang’s marine economic sectors and are central to shaping the city’s brand. Chairman of the Da Nang municipal Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung, proposed that the city should continue to develop and refine key product groups, including: high-end beach tourism, cultural-historical tourism linked with local culture, MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), urban tourism, and eco-tourism.
He emphasized the need to raise awareness across all government levels, business communities, and the public about tourism civility, ensuring professionalism and trustworthiness. The city should accelerate projects aimed at reducing beach and bathing area pollution; promote the transition to low-emission transport in line with Net Zero goals; and build a green ecosystem across all city activities.
Strategically located as a connector among Central coastal provinces, Da Nang must leverage its position to harness marine economic resources, especially in the maritime sector. The city should focus on developing modern technical and social infrastructure based on the smart city model. Key breakthroughs include improving transport infrastructure for both domestic and international connectivity, digital transformation, and promoting information technology and high-tech industries.
Along with the efficient use of Tien Sa Port and the accelerated development of the modern Lien Chieu Port, Da Nang needs to enhance its maritime transport services under a green and smart port model. Furthermore, the city must quickly improve the quality of fishery logistics services; strengthen training and attract high-quality human resources and investment capital to support the development of marine industries.
Translated by Tran Hoai