Danang’S efforts to be the Singapore of Vietnam

I coined the term “economic city branding” after living in Danang, which was in the early days of urban transformation. The leadership of the city recognised the value of both tangible and intangible assets by planning a for a city of the future that is liveable and loveable. Today, Danang has taken centre stage through the amalgamation of Quang Nam province and is tasked to turn itself into a centre for the global financial and innovation industry.

Back in 2017, when my wife and I noticed a billboard at Vincom Ba Trieu in Hanoi with an advertisement for Vinhomes Ocean Park. The tagline said: “We aspire to be as good as Singapore or even better!” I thought it was cheeky for a fairly unknown real estate developer at the time to make such a bold statement to compare a new development to a first world nation.

Today, as a resident of Ocean Park, I have to admit that the developer has not only created a liveable environment, but delivers a consistent service within the township.

It was Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister; who remarked that he placed significant emphasis on consistency in delivering a service to his citizens to ensure they could trust the government and for investors to know they are working in a predictable and stable country. My first-hand experience in Danang and dealing with the local government in 2015 experienced the professionalism and consistency in their public service - the first ‘C’ in the economic city branding principle.

The coastal city of Danang is clearly blessed with geographical advantages and now handed on a silver platter; a hinterland of Quang Nam to develop a bold economic blueprint. Prior to this provincial merger, Danang was already identified by both the Japanese and Koreans as a potential second home. The port city of Yokohama is today a sister city of Danang and has an exchange programme to transfer knowledge and urban solutions.

I am not going to attempt to convince readers that Danang will be able to achieve a global metropolis status in the coming decade. However, it is clear that it is a city that is prepared to punch above its weight and emulate Singapore’s urban blueprint.

The second unique ‘C’ that Danang has is connectivity, to both the north and south of Vietnam but also to the key regional cities of Asia, with airport infrastructure built to accommodate the high-level APEC Summit in 2017. Using the hub and spoke model, both just-in-time manufacturers and e-commerce fulfilment operators are beginning to use Danang to establish their operations for the growing consumer affluence in the north of Vietnam.

Another often forgotten aspect of connectivity is that Danang is an integral part of the East West Economic Corridor. It is a development initiative by the Asian Development Bank focused on enhancing economic cooperation and connectivity across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, to create the first transportation corridor running the entire width of mainland Southeast Asia.

When realised, the key beneficiary of the corridor is Danang, which is accelerating seaport infrastructure to accommodate the flow of goods and services across the Andaman Sea to the East Sea.

Danang already demonstrates its ability as a transhipment hub, as most tourists who land at the airport head to either Hoi An or Hue to enjoy the culture of neighbouring cities. The third C, incidentally, is culture, which Danang should leverage since it has roots to the Chola Dynasty of South India and the rich flora and fauna of the Sontra Mountains, not to mention two of the best golf courses in Southeast Asia. These are key ingredients of a major events industry destination, similar to Bali, Macau, and Phuket.

The upcoming and inaugural Danang Global Business Summit on August 12, curated by passionate local entrepreneurs, is the type of bottom-up initiative that can engage the region and shape conversations to institutionalize events. The city needs a convention bureau to shape a bold events industry strategy, taking a leaf from Hong Kong.

We witness a growing number of Asians and Europeans, some with Silicon Valley roots, making this coastal city their second home. With the potential development of economic clusters in the tech sector, it is highly likely the local government will want to attract talent to support the growth of semiconductors and other high-end value add sectors, which is expected to put Danang on the global map.

It was Parameswara. a Javanese prince, who landed on the shores of Temasek (now Singapore) who decided to name the island Singa Pura, which means Lion City. It was exactly 10 years ago that I landed in Danang after contributing to Singapore’s economic boom, and I feel it in my bones that we are about to witness a similar economic miracle of a second Lion City unfold in the coming years.

The Danang International Fireworks Festival 2025 is creating a brilliant and colourful art show that is transforming the city and its tourism industry into a blooming new era.

With its stellar potential, the central city of Danang is boosting its image far and wide as a place worth living in by organising a slew of major events.

Gorgeous food, dreamy rooms—Vietnam’s coastal gem is calling your name.