DA NANG: The central city of Da Nang has called for the launch of more direct flights connecting it with Phuket and Khon Kaen, Thailand, and Indonesia, creating trade, tourism and investment opportunities among businesses of Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia via the East-West Economic Corridor.

Vice-chairman of the city’s people’s committee Tran Chi Cuong, at recent working visits to Thailand and Indonesia, urged more exchanges and visits among businesses and more tourism surveys.

Cuong also urged Bangkok Yacht Club to review investment possibilities at Da Nang’s Han River ports in promoting tourism cooperation between Da Nang and Bangkok.

He said the city had been building the new Lien Chieu deep-sea port and assigned Tien Sa Port as an international cruise destination.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Da Nang and Thailand’s Khon Kaen Province has been continuously strengthened through agreements and memorandums of understanding since 2014, and opening a direct air route between the two localities is needed for further cooperation and investment, he added.

Da Nang and Khon Kaen signed a letter of intent to establish cooperation in tourism, education, culture, investment and trade, and a memorandum of understanding in tourism and investment in 2022.

Governor of the Thai northeastern province of Khon Kaen, Kraisorn Kongchalad, said a framework will be needed for practical action plans of the two localities on boosting investment, trade and tourism.

Da Nang, which is situated at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, will be eligible for caravan and road tour links from Thailand to world heritage sites in central Vietnam.

Da Nang University officially included the Thai language in its curriculum in 2006.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to launch a direct route between the central coastal city of Da Nang and Thailand’s Bangkok in November.

During the Da Nang tourism promotion programme in Jakarta, Indonesia, the central city’s tourism association and the Indonesian Travel Agents Association signed an agreement on promotion activities for soon opening direct flights between Da Nang and Indonesia.

Da Nang also signed a letter of intent on tourism promotion and cooperation with Gangwon, South Korea on resuming tourism from South Korea.

Earlier, the central city’s tourism department boosted the meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions and golf tour service in the South Korean market.

Currently, four direct flights connect Da Nang with Incheon, Daegu, Cheongju and Muan of South Korea.

The city hosted 5.8 million tourists, including 1.56 million foreigners, in the first nine months of 2023.

A series of tourism promotion and tour service programmes from Da Nang will be held in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore between October and November. — Viet Nam News/ANN