Inside Asian Gaming

IAG DEC 2020年12月 亞博匯 66 IN FOCUS the lanterns,” says the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Visitors typically enjoy taking an evening boat ride on the Hoai River, the department adds, where they can release lanterns, followed by shopping in the night market, trying their hand at traditional folk games like Bai Choi, enjoying tea and coffee in the Old Town or tasting local street delicacies – listed by TripAdvisor as one of the “Top 25 Best Culinary Destinations in the World” – such as My Quang (noodles with pork and shrimp) and Cao Lau (specialty noodles). “Hoi An is considered a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle,” the Department proudly shares. Just 45 minutes further north is Da Nang, the largest city in Central Vietnam and fifth largest in the country with a population of more than 1.1 million people. Still one of Vietnam’s most important port cities, Da Nang is renowned for its spectacular scenery, from the picturesque beaches of My Khe and Non Nuoc to the majesty of the Marble Mountains. From a tourism perspective, the whole Central Vietnam region has traditionally lagged behind its better-known neighbors in the north – home to the government headquarters and bustling business center of Hanoi – and south where Ho Chi Minh City has long been a hugely popular destination for travellers seeking adventure and a vibrant nightlife. But the scene is changing. In 2017, authorities opened the Cua Dai Bridge over the Thu Bon River and a coastal road connecting Da Nang, Hoi An and the eastern part of Quang Nam Province with Nui Thanh District, which counts Chu Lai International Airport among its key features.