Under the professional guidance of Dr. Trinh Le Anh - Head of the Event Management Department and lecturer of the course, the team selected the "Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2023" as the key program for survey and research. This is because it is a very large, professional, and spectacular event of international scale, attracting attention both domestically and internationally, making it suitable for practical learning and research in the course.
On the first day, the delegation held a working session and exchanged professional knowledge with representatives from the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Attending the session were Ms. Duong Le Phuong (Head of the Cultural Management Department, Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), Mr. Tran Xuan Thang (Deputy Director of the Cultural and Film Center), Mr. Vu Tran Xuan Binh (staff member of the Cultural Management Department), and Ms. Huynh Thi Bao Yen (staff member of the Cultural and Film Center). During the meeting, representatives from the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared with the delegation the ideas, objectives, and the process of formation and development of the Fireworks Festival from its early days (2008) to the present. Besides information about DIFF 2023, the postgraduate students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities also learned about practical experiences in state management of culture; and the influence and role of festivals and events on the tourism industry.
The insights shared during the working session provided invaluable practical knowledge for the postgraduate students' studies, research, and work. Da Nang, with its two-time World Travel Awards recognition as "Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination," is a pioneer and highly successful locality in developing festivals and events as a unique product to attract tourists. This experience can serve as a model for other localities to learn from in developing the tourism industry rapidly and sustainably, while also contributing to the preservation and promotion of the nation's traditional cultural values.
Following that, the delegation met with the Da Nang Tourism Association, chaired by Mr. Cao Tri Dung (Chairman of the Association). During the meeting, representatives of the Da Nang Tourism Association shared a lot of information about tourism in Da Nang in general and the activities of tourism businesses in particular, as well as the advantages, difficulties, and challenges facing the tourism industry in the coming years. Through this, it can be affirmed that DIFF 2023 has made a significant contribution to reviving the Da Nang tourism market after two years of stagnation due to COVID-19.
On the afternoon of July 8th, the delegation met with representatives from Sungroup, the sponsor and partner of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) since 2017. Receiving the delegation were Ms. Cao Ngan Ha, Head of Marketing, and Mr. Han Trung Lam, from Sungroup's marketing department and a member of the organizing committee for the 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. Through the sharing of Sungroup representatives, it was evident that developing tourism in a systematic, robust, and sustainable way, while bringing the best value to local people, requires the joint efforts of businesses. By partnering with major tourism events in Da Nang and many other localities, Sungroup has played a pioneering role and contributed significantly to overall development.
During working sessions with tourism management agencies in Da Nang, representatives from the Faculty of Tourism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, also discussed the strengths of the university in training and research in the fields of tourism and tourism management, and proposed future collaborations: organizing short-term training courses on tourism management knowledge; organizing events for local cultural and tourism management officials; organizing scientific conferences on culture and tourism; coordinating internships, practical training, and job placement for students and trainees, etc.
During the internship, the delegation also surveyed nighttime services and attended "Memories of Hoi An," a spectacular and impressive outdoor live performance that was voted "the most beautiful show in the world" by Reuters, a leading news agency. It can be said that "Memories of Hoi An"—a cultural tourism product with an event-based nature—has become a prominent highlight of Hoi An, making it an unmissable experience for any visitor.
In addition, the delegation also conducted a field survey and research at the fireworks festival venue to learn about the event organization and experience the joyful atmosphere of all the spectators attending DIFF 2023.
Throughout the study tour, under the dedicated guidance of Dr. Trinh Le Anh, the students had the opportunity to learn a great deal about tourism activities, tourism management, and events. This enhanced their understanding and in-depth knowledge, while also providing valuable practical experience that will be very useful for their future studies and research. It also opened up many local connections and relationships.
The study tour and field trip of the K20 postgraduate tourism students was very successful. Through this activity, the postgraduate students had the opportunity to share and bond with each other, creating many beautiful memories during their time studying at the Faculty of Tourism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities; it was also a very beneficial experience, enhancing their knowledge and honing their practical skills.
Some photos from the field trip to Da Nang - Quang Nam of the K20 postgraduate tourism students.
