The groundbreaking ceremony for the US$130mil five-star marine resort with an 18-hole golf course invested by VinaCapital Group

Danang topped the leading Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for the first time after 03 years ranking second after Binh Duong. The criteria this year included market entering expenses, stability in land use, use transparency and access to information, time spent to carry out State regulations, unofficial expenses, priorities for State enterprises (competitive environment), dynamics and pioneering of city/provincial leaders, private economic development policies, labour training and legal regulations. In the face of many challenges, Danang’s leading position in the 2008 PCI ranking table showed that the city has had strong improvement in economic management and development and has actually become the best destination for investors nationally.

 

From 27 to 28 March 2008, Danang was the host city for the first international fireworks competition in Vietnam. This innovative festival was an opportunity for the city to publicising its image. The competition attracted more than 50,000 national and international visitors to enjoy impressive and spectacular festival evenings with competitive firework music and light performances by the teams from Hong Kong–China, Canada, Malaysia and Danang. Due to the success of this competition, the government gave permission for Danang to organize international firework competitions annually with the funding provided by sponsors. This competition was evaluated as one of the top national cultural and tourism events in 2008.

On 15 November, the Danang People’s Committee held the groundbreaking ceremony for the new 34 storey administrative centre. The total floor area of about 65,000m² will include an informatics centre, data centre, reception and conference rooms, and offices for city departments and agencies. Levels 33 and 34 will comprise a revolving restaurant and sightseeing area for the general public. The spiral design of the building will symbolize the dynamics of the city by the Han River. This is the first concentrated administrative complex in Vietnam and it will provide easy access to all city administrative agencies and bodies, reduce time and expense for travel and public spending, and create a strong foundation for building up the administrative sector.  

Danang had a “good crop” of international Olympiad and Olympic medals. Student Huynh Minh Toan of the Le Quy Don Senior High School for Gifted Students won a silver medal in the 9th Asian Olympiad in Physics held in Mongolia in April 2008 and a gold medal in the 39th international Olympiad in Physics held in Vietnam in July 2008. A silver medal in the 20th International Olympiad in Informatics held in Egypt in August 2008 went to student Nguyen Ba Canh Son of the same high school. These are the highest international achievements of Danang students since 1975. In August 2008, athlete Hoang Anh Tuan won a silver medal, the only medal of the Vietnam team, in weight-lifting at the Beijing Olympics. These medals marked great efforts and were the results of the investment by the city authorities in education-training, sports, culture and society.