Da Nang is not only going after additional tourists. It is after big spenders. With Emirates starting direct flights to Da Nang from Dubai in June, Vietnam just swung the gates open for luxury tourists from the Middle East -and maybe beyond.
The Bigger Picture: Da Nang’s Staging Run for Tourist Dollars is About to Get an Upgrade
This is not just another route. It is an entryway to beach resorts, world-class golf, halal-based experiences, and mountain views straight out of a fairytale. Dramatic? Yes. Because this could change the game on how Da Nang plays globally.
What’s the Dubai–Da Nang flight route about?
Here is the skinny on this here: Emirates has now set it sights on connecting one of the wealthiest regions in the world with Vietnam’s fastest growing coastal destination. A smart move – not just for Vietnam Airlines or the Vietnam tourism agency, but for hoteliers, luxury brands, halal tourism planners, and more.
The city has its sights set on wealthy Middle Eastern tourists who seek comfort, class, and cultural sensitivity. What better manner to provide that then with an easy 1-stop transfer direct to luxury?
Golf and Glamour: Da Nang’s New Image
Da Nang has long been associated with beaches—but now it’s featuring golf tourism as well. As a result of the Emirates route, premium golf clubs such as Ba Na Hills Golf Club have received a huge boost in visibility.
Ba Na Hills Golf Club’s General Manager Simon Mees says this new level of connectivity gives Da Nang greater credential as a destination for elite international travelers. “It places us on the luxury golf map globally,” he says.
Halal-Friendly Travel in Vietnam Is Real—and It’s Expanding Rapidly
Here now is what you should pay attention to: Da Nang is leaning hard into halal tourism. And it’s not just talk.
Sun World Ba Na Hills, one of Vietnam’s iconic mountain-themed resorts, has already announced halal-certified buffet restaurants. The resort is also tailoring the overall travel experience, so Muslim travelers feel acknowledged and welcomed—and valued.
According to Director Nguyen Lam An, halal services are not merely a marketing value-added service; they are a core focus. He feels this is a smart way to entice high-value tourists who wish to also stay true to their religious or cultural values on their holiday experience.
The Golden Bridge—and Everything Else Around It
If you’ve seen the photo of giant stone hands holding a golden walkway in the clouds—that’s the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills. It has become the face of Vietnamese tourism.
And it’s more than just the bridge. The whole experience of Ba Na Hills is meant to wow: European-style buildings, cultural performances, cool weather on top of a mountain that is nearly 1,500 meters above sea level—all of this makes for a quality immersive and Insta-friendly opportunity.
When You’re Back in the City: Da Nang’s Night Markets and Aim Invisible
Down from the mountains, Da Nang itself certainly isn’t standing still either. The night markets are alive, the food streets are alive, and the feeling within the city is quickly moving toward dynamic and cosmopolitan.
Whether you like street food, fine dining, quiet beach, or nightlife – this coastal city is making sure that travelers stay longer and spend more.
Who’s Next? Not Only the Middle East
Though the Middle Eastern travelers are obviously the low-hanging fruit right now, this is a part of the bigger plan Da Nang is unpacking. Da Nang is also looking beyond just East Asia. Travelers from Europe, Central Asia, and even North America are all part of their marketing plans.
With direct access and a meaningful recognition of the cultural needs of other travelers (i.e. halal tourism in Vietnam), Da Nang will firmly establish itself as a truly inclusive, high-end travel destination.
Vietnam is not Playing Small Anymore
This is not just one city, or one flight route; it is a signal: Vietnam is setting its sights on wealthy travelers, and transforming its image from “the budget backpacker” to “a luxury, culturally rich, globally connected destination.”
Whether you’re after the best halal resorts in Asia, planning a long-overdue holiday from the Middle East to Asia, or simply keeping an eye on Vietnam’s emerging luxury travel scene—Da Nang could be the next destination to have on your watchlist.