Within the framework of the Da Nang International Tourism Festival 2026 (DITF 2026), the seminar “Developing Hoi An Ancient Town Tourism – A World Cultural Heritage in a New Era” took place on October 17 at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang, gathering nearly 200 delegates to exchange strategic orientations for Hoi An tourism, aiming for harmony between heritage conservation, product innovation, and sustainable development.
Overview of the seminar “Developing Hoi An Ancient Town Tourism – A World Cultural Heritage in a New Era” held on October 17, 2026, at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang, within the framework of DITF 2026, focusing on discussing orientations for conservation, promoting heritage values, and developing Hoi An tourism towards sustainability.
In the context of the tourism industry transforming in response to changes in market demand, technology, and experience trends, exploiting heritage values sustainably is becoming one of the key priorities for cultural destinations. For Hoi An, the challenge is not only to continue attracting tourists but also how to preserve original values while creating new experiences that meet the expectations of domestic and international visitors.
This is also the focus of the seminar “Developing Hoi An Ancient Town Tourism – A World Cultural Heritage in a New Era”, organized by the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the direction of the City People’s Committee, at 1:30 PM on October 17, 2026, at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang.
Representatives of Furama – Ariyana Danang International Tourism Complex along with representatives of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and delegates at the seminar “Developing Hoi An Ancient Town Tourism – A World Cultural Heritage in a New Era”, held on October 17, 2026, at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang.
Taking place within the framework of DITF 2026 activities, the seminar is expected to gather nearly 200 delegates, including representatives from Central and Da Nang city agencies, international organizations, experts, researchers, tourism associations, travel agencies, hotels, resorts, monument owners, and press agencies.
The event opens a multi-dimensional exchange space between policymakers, professionals, and the business community, aiming for practical solutions to enhance the competitiveness of Hoi An tourism in the new development phase.
Hoi An Facing the Requirement to Balance Heritage Conservation and Experience Innovation
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, Hoi An Ancient Town has long affirmed its appeal as a destination rich in cultural, historical, and architectural identity. However, as traveler tastes change, heritage advantages must continue to be promoted through new, in-depth, and experience-focused approaches.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Tan Van Vuong, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized the requirement to innovate tourism products based on heritage, while expanding experience spaces, connecting Hoi An Ancient Town with craft villages, rural areas, ecological zones, and islands. On that basis, strengthening regional links, mobilizing resources, and perfecting coordination mechanisms between management agencies, businesses, and the community are seen as necessary directions to promote heritage values, improve destination quality, and drive sustainable development for Hoi An tourism in the new era.
Mr. Tan Van Vuong, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaking at the seminar “Developing Hoi An Ancient Town Tourism – A World Cultural Heritage in a New Era”, emphasizing orientations for conservation, promoting heritage values associated with product innovation and sustainable tourism development in the new phase.
Over the years, Hoi An has gradually diversified tourism products based on culture, ecology, craft villages, and community life. In addition to the ancient town space, green tourism products, community tourism, and local cultural experiences are increasingly emphasized, contributing to expanding sightseeing spaces and creating more opportunities for local people to participate in tourism activities.
At the seminar, delegates will review the results achieved in the management, conservation, and promotion of heritage values; while discussing challenges posed to the development of the heritage city in the context of international integration and digital transformation.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, presented the keynote report, evaluating the results achieved in management, conservation, and promotion of heritage values associated with tourism development. Besides achievements in monument restoration and attracting tourists, he also pointed out challenges such as local overcrowding, the risk of heritage commercialization, and the impact of climate change. On that basis, he proposed key solutions, including protecting the authenticity of heritage, promoting digital transformation, developing green tourism, and expanding experience spaces, connecting the ancient town with craft villages, ecological zones, and neighboring destinations, aiming for sustainable Hoi An tourism development in the new era.
Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, presenting the keynote report at the seminar, evaluating the current state of management, conservation, and promotion of Hoi An Ancient Town values associated with tourism development, while serving as a basis for discussing sustainable heritage tourism development orientations in the new era.
One of the notable orientations is developing Hoi An tourism not only based on familiar attractions but also expanding the experience journey to craft villages, rural areas, ecological zones, and islands. Products such as “Impressions of Ancient Tuong”, night tours at Hoi An Prison, or the “Back to Cam Thanh – Hearing the Coconut’s Story” route show the potential of exploiting local cultural materials to enrich the discovery journey of tourists.
Sharing at the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, Chairman of the Da Nang Hotel Association, and General Director of Bac My An Tourism Joint Stock Company, provided a notable perspective on the development orientation of Hoi An tourism in the new phase. According to him, Hoi An already possesses special advantages in heritage, reputation, and appeal to international tourists. However, to enhance destination value, it is necessary not only to attract more tourists but also to create spaces and experiences with enough depth for them to want to stay, explore, and engage longer. He emphasized the role of investors with cultural vision, artists, artisans, chefs, and the creative business community in enriching cultural life, developing tourism products, and preserving local identity. In the future, Hoi An should not only continue the vitality of a once-bustling trading port but also strive to become a city of art, culture, and knowledge, where every experience leaves a mark and becomes a reason for tourists to return.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, Chairman of the Da Nang Hotel Association, and General Director of Bac My An Tourism Joint Stock Company, sharing at the seminar on orientations to improve the quality of Hoi An tourism, emphasizing the development of cultural, artistic spaces and in-depth experiences to preserve heritage identity, extend stay duration, and create more reasons for tourists to return.
In addition, the development of cultural and artistic festivals and community activities is also expected to contribute to enhancing the destination’s appeal, encouraging tourists to extend their stay and increase their experience in Hoi An.
Digital Transformation and the Night Economy Open New Development Potential
Along with the requirement to preserve heritage values, the application of technology and innovation is becoming an important factor in the strategy to improve destination quality.
According to the orientations mentioned in the seminar content, Hoi An will continue to promote research and digital transformation in heritage management and tourist services. Solutions such as 3D digitization of monuments, QR code applications providing multi-language information, building creative and artistic space maps, automatic ticketing systems, or smart tourism experience support platforms are expected to bring more convenient and vivid ways to access heritage.
Handicraft products imbued with Hoi An cultural identity, demonstrating the ingenuity and creativity of local artisans, contributing to preserving traditional crafts, enriching tourism experiences, and promoting heritage identity to domestic and international tourists.
Notably, developing the night economy is also a direction with much potential as Hoi An possesses a characteristic cultural space along with rich culinary, artistic, and community activities.
Expanding night experience products, combining art performances, cuisine, shopping, and creative activities not only contributes to enhancing experience value but also creates more business opportunities for the local community.
However, developing new products needs to be associated with the requirement of preserving landscapes, architecture, and local cultural life, ensuring that tourism activities continue to contribute positively to heritage conservation.
From Policy Forum to Market Connection Opportunities at DITF 2026
A notable point of this year’s seminar is its organization within the framework of the Da Nang International Tourism Festival 2026, a tourism trade event organized by the Da Nang Tourism Association in coordination with HORECFEX Vietnam at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang.
With the message “Connecting Partners – Creating the Future”, DITF 2026 aims to create a direct trade environment between Vietnamese tourism businesses and international partners, while expanding the space for discussion on issues significant to the long-term development of the tourism industry.
Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Product Display Space within the framework of the Da Nang International Tourism Festival 2026 (DITF 2026), held on the afternoon of October 17 at the Ariyana Convention Centre Danang, marking the beginning of product introduction activities, trade connections, and promoting domestic and international tourism cooperation.
In that context, the seminar on the development of Hoi An Ancient Town tourism contributes depth to the DITF 2026 program, connecting destination development orientations with actual market needs.
For travel, accommodation, and event organizing businesses, new heritage tourism products, cultural-ecological experience routes, and night tourism activities can open up more opportunities to build sightseeing, resort, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) programs in Da Nang.
Conversely, exchanges from the business community, market partners, and international experts can also contribute practical perspectives to the process of orienting product development, improving service quality, and expanding access to new tourist segments.
The combination of thematic seminars, product introductions, and B2B connections at DITF 2026 therefore not only facilitates destination promotion but also promotes dialogue between parties involved in the tourism value chain.
Leaders of the Da Nang Tourism Association highly appreciate the role of connection and promotion of the event destination by the Da Nang Event Destination Club (DECA), contributing to promoting Da Nang’s potential for conference and event tourism, while promoting links between businesses to develop programs combining resorts, Hoi An heritage discovery, and Central Vietnam cultural experiences.
Preserving Identity to Create Long-term Competitiveness for the Destination
Throughout the seminar is the orientation of developing Hoi An tourism based on the unique values of the World Cultural Heritage, in which heritage conservation is the fundamental requirement, the local community plays the central role, and tourism becomes the driving force for socio-economic development.
The opinions, suggestions, and recommendations at the seminar are expected to contribute to providing a reference basis for the locality in the process of perfecting orientations, planning, and development policies for Hoi An tourism, aiming for a destination with quality, competitiveness, and sustainable development potential.
By including important issues of heritage tourism in the DITF 2026 program, Da Nang continues to promote the connection between management agencies, researchers, and the business community in the process of destination development.
Beyond the exchanges at the seminar, the expected value lies in initiatives that can be transformed into products, cooperation models, and specific solutions, so that Hoi An continues to develop as a heritage city rich in identity, where cultural values are preserved and continued in contemporary life.
