On June 2, 2025, the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with Emirates, Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company (AHT), and Sun Group, held a welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight EK370 from Dubai to Da Nang (transiting in Bangkok), officially marking the presence of Emirates – the world-leading international airline (according to Forbes Travel Guide 2025) – in Da Nang.
Emirates’ first flight to Da Nang was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute
“This route not only promotes tourism development but also expands opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, and cultural & economic exchange, contributing to enhancing Da Nang’s global image with the message ‘Discover the stories of Danang’,” said Ms. Truong Thi Hong Hanh – Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Flight EK370 landed at Da Nang International Airport at 7:50 PM on the same day, carrying 333 international passengers aboard a Boeing 777 – a wide-body aircraft serving three cabin classes. This is the first scheduled flight in Emirates’ regular operations on the Dubai – Bangkok – Da Nang route, with a frequency of four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
The Emirates representative presented a special gift to Mr. Tran Chi Cuong – Vice Chairman of Da Nang People’s Committee
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Tran Chi Cuong, Vice Chairman of Da Nang People’s Committee, stated: “The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai – Da Nang route, transiting through Bangkok, marks a significant milestone in the city’s integration and expansion of its international air network. With connections to over 140 global destinations, this route shortens the distance between Da Nang and potential markets such as the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Africa, contributing to tourism growth and opening up cooperation opportunities across trade, investment, and cultural exchange.”
Since early 2023, promoting the Dubai route has been identified as a key priority by Da Nang. In January 2023, a delegation led by Chairman Le Trung Chinh held a meeting with Mr. Orhan Abbas – Senior Vice President in charge of the Far East region and Commercial Division of Emirates – and other airline representatives at Emirates’ headquarters in Dubai.
Following two years of discussions and promotion, in January 2025, an Emirates delegation led by Mr. Salem Ghanem Al Marri – Director of Route Planning and Analysis, had a working session with the Da Nang People’s Committee, leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, relevant agencies, Da Nang Airport authorities, and Sun Group. During the visit, the delegation conducted field surveys and developed a plan to launch the Dubai – Da Nang route.
The first Emirates passengers to Da Nang received Vietnamese conical hats and teddy bears as gifts from Sun Group
Ms. Nguyen Vu Quynh Anh, Deputy CEO of Sun Group and CEO of Sun Hospitality & Entertainment Group – the tourism and entertainment brand under Sun Group – shared: “We are proud and honored to contribute to connecting and supporting Emirates in launching this new route to Da Nang, a destination where Sun Group has invested in iconic tourism developments since since the very first days Sun Group set foot in Vietnam. We believe this route will open a new gateway for Da Nang, bringing international visitors - especially high-end travelers that Emirates is known to attract - and unlocking access to promising and potential new markets such as the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. It will offer them a closer look at the nature, the culture, and tourism potential of Da Nang in general, to the large-scale tourism–hospitality–entertainment ecosystem Sun Group built here in particular.”
The Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hills – one of the most frequently mentioned tourism icons in Vietnam by international visitors
In Da Nang, Sun Group has developed a world-class tourism–hospitality–entertainment ecosystem, capable of serving the most demanding high-end clientele. Among the most prominent are internationally recognized destinations like Sun World Ba Na Hills with its iconic Golden Bridge, and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort – ranked the World’s Leading Luxury Resort for three consecutive years. The ecosystem also includes hotels operated by Accor – one of the world’s leading hospitality brands. Sun Group is also the official destination partner of the Michelin Guide, helping bring this prestigious culinary guide to Vietnam in general and to Da Nang in particular, reinforcing the international status of Vietnamese cuisine. In the near future, Sun Group’s ecosystem in Da Nang will continue to expand to increase tourist stays, especially among high-end travelers, with highlights such as the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) and a hotel project with over 2,000 rooms at Ba Na…
Ms. Quynh Anh also noted that to welcome travelers from the Middle East on Emirates flights, Sun Group’s establishments in Da Nang have proactively invested in new amenities and experiences such as halal restaurants and prayer rooms at Ba Na Hills to better serve this discerning customer segment. Sun Group is also planning collaborative promotional campaigns with Emirates and will introduce special offers for Emirates passengers to help further promote Da Nang and other destinations across Vietnam to travelers from countries served by Emirates’ global network.
Sun World Ba Na Hills – a destination known for iconic tourism works and infinite festivals
Mr. Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management, said: “With Da Nang’s unique combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and growing economic potential, we are proud to offer world-class products and services that connect Da Nang (Vietnam) with Dubai and Bangkok. We sincerely thank the Vietnamese government, the team at Da Nang International Airport, and our tourism industry partners for their enthusiastic support. We believe in the growing appeal of Da Nang and look forward to connecting travelers and businesses with this exceptional destination.”
