ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city’s tourism promotion centre, in co-operation with HanaTour company, has launched an Instagram photo contest, "Đa Nẵng in My Heart", for Koreans living in Viet 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 Hoai An, said the photo contest aims to highlight attractive images of Đa Nẵng to Korean tourists through social media networks, luring them to the central city as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. 

South Koreans who have visited Đa Nẵng in the past can post their favourite photos or clips to Instagram to take part in the contest. Koreans who have yet visited Đa Nẵng can still enter by creating images of Đa 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 Đa Nẵng Fantastic Heart – will receive an award worth 300,000 won (US$254) and a package tour for two to Đa Nẵng City, offered by HanaTour.

The winners of the five ‘Đa 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 Đa Nẵng Resort will also be up for grabs.

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

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

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

While the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily stopped South Korean tourists from coming to Đa 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 Đa 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 Đa Nẵng in the coming time.

Đa Nẵng is a good, central connection to visit world heritage sites in Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Thừa Thien-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 Đa Nẵng to serve Korean tourists in Đa Nẵng and Hoi An. 

Art troupes from Viet Nam and South Korea often host joint performances in Đa Nẵng and Hoi An in annual culture exchange events. 

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