Authorities in central Vietnam will double the number of performances of an iconic program in UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town to cater to burgeoning tourist demand.

The People’s Committee in the central province of Quang Nam have announced that they are poised to increase the frequency of the “Dem Pho Co” (Ancient Town Night) program from once to twice a lunar month.

The program, which is currently held in the ancient town on the 14th day of every lunar month, offers tourists a wide array of alluring activities including dining at cuisine sections, setting free lit flower lanterns on the town’s Hoai River, and strolling through a night market.

The committee has decided that the program will be held twice monthly, on the first and 14th days of every lunar month, starting next month.

Today, January 16, is the 26th day of the eleventh month in the lunar calendar.

The organizer will then take into consideration the possibility of running the program once every week based on the program’s appeal.

The committee also assigned the local Culture-Sports Center to diversify the program’s content and improve its appeal as a hallmark tourist product.

Improvements are to be made regarding sound and lighting systems and local peddlers’ attitudes and price listing.   The “Dem Pho Co” program was introduced in 1998.

Over the past 16 years, over 200 nights have been organized to attract a large number of local and international tourists.

According to statistics released in October 2014 by the Office of Trade and Tourism of Hoi An City, which is home to the ancient town, the city saw an increase of roughly 263 percent in the number of tourists spending time at local hotels every month in and around the time “Dem Pho Co” was held.

In 1999, Hoi An Ancient Town was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO for being a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, and for housing buildings with a unique blend of local and foreign influences. Since then, the culturally rich town has been voted one of the top tourist destinations in the world by several major tourism magazines.

Quang Nam Province received nearly 3.7 million visits in 2014, a seven percent year-on-year rise and almost four percent higher than the target, officials said at a meeting in late December last year.

The province expects to welcome over 3.85 million visitors this year.

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