History & Architecture of APEC Sculpture Park in Da Nang

The APEC Park is located in a triangle piece of land in the heart of Da Nang city. It’s bordered by Bach Dang Street running along the west bank of the Han River to the east, by 2 Thang 9 Street to the west, and by Binh Minh 4 Street to the south. This place is one of the new landmarks on Da Nang riverfronts.

On 9th November 2017, the APEC Park at Da Nang was inaugurated and opened to the public, with an area of 3,000 m2. It’s constructed to celebrate the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that occurred in the city on 10th and 11st November 2017. This is the second time that Vietnam is the host, after APEC 2006 in Hanoi capital. The economic cooperation was established in 1989, to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

On 10th January 2022, the project to extend and upgrade APEC Park was completed. The city aimed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Da Nang becoming the fifth municipality of Vietnam, one of turning points in the city’s history. Total area of this park is up to over 8,600 m2 and its cost of construction is 759 billion Vietnamese dong. Previously, the groundbreaking ceremony happened in October 2020.

The APEC Park is a landscaped park with 21 marble sculptures to represent 21 economies in the event and flower gardens on the ground level. The sculpture of ‘The Beginning’ was designed by Vietnamese artist Le Lang Luong from Hanoi University of Fine Arts, and carved by local sculptor Nguyen Luong Buu from Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village at the Marble Mountains. In the underground level, there is a parking lot. On the highest level, there is a 15,7-meters-tall white structure which symbolizes the flying kite, showing the ambition of international integration and development of the city and the country. This structure is made of around 200 tons of steel by the HGPT Mechanical, a Da Nang-based company established in 1988. Under it, public exhibitions and activities are held regularly. During the day, many locals and tourists come here to take photos. Photography service is available if want to have a big physical picture to save the memory and bring home as a souvenir.

Due to the tall ‘flying kite’ structure, visitors can see the APEC Park from many places around Da Nang city centre, such as bridges across the river, from river cruises.

From the riverside walk by the APEC Park, visitors can have a good view of the Han River and famous bridges cross it, including the Dragon Bridge (left side) and Tran Thi Ly Bridge (right side). Near the crossroad of Bach Dang St and Binh Minh 4 St, there is a semicircle observation deck where the view is even better. During Tet or Vietnamese Lunar new year, this area will be lushly decorated by flowers and symbolic animals of the year.

At night, the surrounding area of APEC Park becomes more vibrant and lively when the Bach Dang Walking Street opens. In this pedestrian street, visitors will see beverage stores, souvenir shops, photo spots, fast food stalls, and outdoor activities. Weekend is the busiest time here. At the end of the street (from the park), visitors can continue strolling along the riverside walk and on Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, the only pedestrian bridge in the city. See more information & details