Representatives of Japanese media agencies have been impressed by the natural beauties of Da Nang during a recent fam trip to the central Vietnamese tourism hub.

While the Japanese arrivals to Da Nang are increasing, Japan is still behind China and South Korea in the city’s top three biggest tourist sources, according to the municipal tourism department.

A Japanese media trip has visited Da Nang to study its tourism environment and potential, as well as touring nearby attractions such as My Son and Hoi An, to promote all of those Vietnamese destinations to audience back home.

The media representatives remarked after the trip that Da Nang is very attractive to tourists from the East Asian country.

Ozeki Masakooszeki, an Asahi TV reporter, said Da Nag looks similar to the Japanese city of Osaka, with similar beautiful landscapes.

Masakooszeki has been to Vietnam three times but it was his first trip to Da Nang. The reporter said his first impression with the central city is the marvelous mountains, seas and beaches, and its dynamic lifestyle.

Mayo Senda, an editor of a local newspaper in Osaka, said the media trip allowed her to have first-hand experience of Vietnam’s friendliless, which she had been told of many times before.

Senda said local people in Da Nang appear to have special friendliness toward the Japanese whenever they see them on the streets. The editor added that it is also great to see Vietnamese people love made-in-Japan products. “Here almost every motorbike is referred to as a Honda,” she said.

Members of the media trip said they will promote Da Nang and nearby attractions to Japanese tourists after the visit.

Still, there are drawbacks the Japanese media representatives urge Da Nang to resolve to increase its attractiveness.

Hideya Nanba, an ex-Fuji TV reporter, said prices in Da Nang are rising, which may affects tourist arrivals.

If prices keep soaring, tourists may think twice before coming to Da Nang, Nanba said. While traveling in the central Vietnamese city is still cheaper than in Japan, tourists may choose Hawaii, which has similar natural beauties but cheaper prices, he warned.

Truong Thi Hong Hanh, deputy head of the city’s tourism department, said relevant agencies will review the price listings of tourism service providers citywide. She underlined however that there have been so far complaint about overcharges from tourists.

It is stipulated that tourist businesses in Da Nang adequately quote prices and any violations such as rip-off will be strictly sanctioned, the official added.

“Compared to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, prices in Da Nang are at average levels,” she said.

A nonstop flight connecting Da Nang and Osaka is slated for launch on August 1, according to the Da Nang’s department of home affairs.

There will be four weekly flights on the new service, hoped to boost Japanese arrivals to the Vietnamese city. Japanese visitors will also be able to enjoy visa waivers when traveling to Da Nang.

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