DITF 2026: Hoi An seeks new directions for tourism built on its World Cultural Heritage

As part of the Da Nang International Tourism Festival 2026 (DITF 2026), the workshop “Developing Tourism in Hoi An Ancient Town – World Cultural Heritage – in a New Era” took place on 17 October at Ariyana Convention Centre Danang, bringing together nearly 200 delegates to exchange strategic directions for Hoi An tourism, aiming for a balance between heritage conservation, product innovation and sustainable development.

Da Nang, 17 October 2026 – As the tourism industry transforms in response to changing market demand, technology and experience trends, making sustainable use of heritage values is becoming one of the key priorities for cultural destinations. For Hoi An, the challenge is not only to keep attracting visitors, but also to preserve its original values while creating new experiences that meet the expectations of domestic and international travellers.

This was also the focus of the workshop “Developing Tourism in Hoi An Ancient Town – World Cultural Heritage – in a New Era”, organised by the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the direction of the Da Nang People's Committee, at 13:30 on 17 October 2026 at Ariyana Convention Centre Danang.

Held as part of the DITF 2026 programme, the workshop is expected to bring together nearly 200 delegates, including representatives of central government agencies and the City of Da Nang, international organisations, experts, researchers, tourism associations, travel companies, hotels, tourist areas and heritage site owners, as well as news agencies and the press.

The event opens a space for multi-sided dialogue between policymakers, professionals and the business community, aiming at practical solutions to strengthen the competitiveness of Hoi An tourism in its new phase of development.

Hoi An and the need to balance heritage conservation with new experiences

Recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, Hoi An Ancient Town has long proven its appeal as a destination with a strong cultural, historical and architectural identity. Yet as traveller tastes keep changing, this heritage advantage needs to be developed further through new approaches that offer depth and put the experience first.

In recent years, Hoi An has gradually diversified its tourism products based on culture, ecology, craft villages and community life. Beyond the old town itself, green tourism, community-based tourism and local cultural experiences are receiving growing attention, widening the area open to visitors and creating more opportunities for local residents to take part in tourism.

At the workshop, delegates will review the results achieved in managing, conserving and promoting heritage values, and discuss the challenges facing the development of a heritage town in the context of international integration and digital transformation.

One notable direction is to develop Hoi An tourism not only around its familiar attractions, but also by extending visitor journeys to craft villages, the countryside, ecological areas, the sea and the islands. Products such as “Echoes of Ancient Tuong” (Vietnam's classical opera), night tours at the former Hoi An Prison, and the “Back to Cam Thanh – Listening to the Coconuts' Stories” route show the potential of drawing on local cultural material to enrich visitors' journeys of discovery.

In addition, developing cultural and arts festivals and community activities is expected to make the destination more attractive, encouraging visitors to stay longer and enjoy more experiences in Hoi An.

Digital transformation and the night-time economy open new room for growth

Alongside the need to conserve heritage values, technology and innovation are becoming key elements in the strategy to raise the quality of the destination.

According to the directions outlined in the workshop content, Hoi An will continue to step up research and digital transformation in heritage management and visitor services. Solutions such as 3D digitisation of monuments, QR codes providing multilingual information, maps of creative and art spaces, automated ticketing systems and smart tourism platforms are expected to offer more convenient and engaging ways to access heritage.

Notably, developing the night-time economy is also a promising direction, as Hoi An has a distinctive cultural setting along with a rich culinary, artistic and community life.

Expanding night-time experiences that combine performing arts, cuisine, shopping and creative activities would not only add value to the visitor experience but also create more business opportunities for the local community.

However, new product development must go hand in hand with preserving the landscape, architecture and local cultural life, ensuring that tourism continues to make a positive contribution to heritage conservation.

From policy forum to market connections at DITF 2026

A notable feature of this year's workshop is that it is held within the Da Nang International Tourism Festival 2026, the tourism trade event organised by the Da Nang Tourism Association in cooperation with HORECFEX Vietnam at Ariyana Convention Centre Danang.

With its message “Connecting Partners, Creating Future”, DITF 2026 aims to create an environment for direct trade between Vietnamese tourism businesses and international partners, while broadening the discussion on issues that matter for the long-term development of the tourism industry.

In this context, the workshop on tourism development in Hoi An Ancient Town adds depth to the DITF 2026 programme, linking destination development directions with real market needs.

For tour operators, accommodation providers and event organisers, new heritage tourism products, cultural and ecological experience routes and night-time activities could open up further opportunities to build sightseeing, leisure and conference-and-event travel programmes in Da Nang.

Conversely, input from the business community, market partners and international experts can also bring practical perspectives to shaping product development, raising service quality and reaching new traveller segments.

The combination of thematic workshops, product presentations and B2B networking at DITF 2026 therefore not only supports destination promotion, but also encourages dialogue among all the players in the tourism value chain.

Preserving identity to build lasting competitiveness for the destination

Running through the workshop was a vision of developing Hoi An tourism on the distinctive values of its World Cultural Heritage, in which heritage conservation is the fundamental requirement, the local community plays the central role and tourism becomes a driver of socio-economic development.

The opinions, proposals and recommendations put forward at the workshop are expected to provide a reference for the local authorities as they refine the directions, planning and policies for Hoi An tourism, towards a destination of quality, competitiveness and sustainable growth.

By bringing key issues of heritage tourism into the DITF 2026 programme, Da Nang continues to strengthen the links between regulators, researchers and the business community in developing the destination.

Beyond the discussions at the workshop, the hoped-for value lies in initiatives that can be turned into concrete products, partnership models and solutions, so that Hoi An continues to grow as a heritage town with a strong identity, where cultural values are preserved and carried forward in contemporary life.

Event information