An old folk rhyme and the miraculous rebirth of a forgotten peak

A lingering verse and the quest to awaken a slumbering mountain

More than a century ago, in November 1901, an expedition led by French Captain Debay, acting under orders from Governor-General Paul Doumer, first discovered Mount Chua. Perched 1,487 meters above sea level, it offered a refreshing year-round chill reminiscent of Da Lat. Before long, the French carved out an idyllic hill station floating high above the mist: a road connecting Ba Na to the national highway was completed in 1919, followed by nearly 240 colonial villas and guesthouses. It soon became the premier mountain retreat for aristocrats and high-ranking officers throughout Indochina. 

Yet the tides of war eroded almost all that the French had built. For decades, the once-fabled haven slowly sank into quiet wilderness. In early 1997, the Da Nang municipal government made a determined effort to revive Ba Na as an eco-tourism destination, but visitors still trickled in by only a few tens of thousands each year. The reason was obvious: the solitary 15-kilometer winding road, notorious for its dizzying hairpin turns, was a harrowing ordeal for anyone venturing up the mountain. And at the summit, beyond the rare cool breeze, there was virtually nothing to experience apart from a scattering of worn-out, weathered stalls and sheds. 

After nearly two decades, Mount Chua has undergone a poetic rebirth, gently letting an old wry verse fade into distant memory 

Right up until 2009, Ba Na barely managed to draw 30,000 to 40,000 arrivals annually. It was precisely out of that widespread disappointment that the folk verse emerged, a bittersweet, self-deprecating joke shared by locals about a hidden jewel abandoned in their own homeland.

Before Sun Group arrived, Ba Na had caught the eye of several prospective investors. Reflecting on those uncertain days, Sun Group Chairman Dang Minh Truong once candidly acknowledged that multiple corporations had journeyed to Ba Na or Fansipan, only to shake their heads and walk away. To any outsider looking in, the venture was a bottomless financial pit fraught with staggering engineering hurdles – one that would take decades just to recoup the initial capital, let alone turn a profit.

In October 2007, when Sun Group’s leaders traveled up the mountain alongside city officials, the desolate wilderness along the path made even the group’s top executives hesitate, momentarily dimming their ambition to build a cable car system here. But Da Nang’s visionary leaders spoke of Ba Na with heartfelt tenderness, likening the mountain to the city’s “youngest daughter” and proposing her hand to Sun Group—a homecoming enterprise freshly returned from Ukraine, ready to heed the call for a historic tourism revolution. On September 14, 2007, the Ba Na Cable Car Service Joint Stock Company was officially founded. The challenge was daunting right from the very start: construct a cable car line to the summit within a single year, without cutting down a single forest tree.

Gliding through the clouds, the record-breaking cable car paved the legendary “road to heavenly paradise” amidst the pristine wilderness

On March 25, 2009, after a grueling, relentless battle against sheer cliffs and unforgiving weather, the Ba Na – Suoi Mo cable car line officially commenced operation, claiming four Guinness World Records in a single stroke. That was the day Mount Chua was awakened from its deep sleep – and the moment the countdown began on the final days of that old folk rhyme. 

A journey that captivated the world

From that maiden cable car journey, each passing year brought travelers an alluring new reason to return. The poetic refrain “Ba Na Hills – The path to fairly land” bloomed and took root in the memories of Da Nang’s people over the next 16 to 17 years, completely replacing the self-mocking verse of days gone by. 

Suspended in colossal, moss-cloaked stone hands, the iconic Golden Bridge shines as an ethereal marvel that took the world’s breath away  

In 2018, the Golden Bridge, spanning nearly 150 meters and cradled aloft by giant, weathered stone hands, made its debut, sending shockwaves through the global media landscape. Thousands of premier international newsrooms, television channels, and renowned travel platforms such as CNN, BBC, The New York Times, TIME, Fox News, and The Guardian poured out breathless acclaim for the architectural wonder.

Yet the Golden Bridge was merely the overture to an ever-unfolding symphony. Wonder after wonder came to life: Helios Waterfall, adorned with an exquisite bronze sculpture collection from Italy’s world-renowned Frilli Gallery; the mystical Time Gate; the majestic Lunar Castle (2022) unveiling the enchanting saga of the Sun and Moon Kingdoms; Eclipse Square; and, most recently, the artisanal Ba Na Brew House alongside the vibrant Pop Mart store. Each creation serves as an irresistible invitation: inspiring first-timers to pack their bags, while beckoning those who have been before to discover the mountain anew.

Prestigious global accolades have crowned Sun World Ba Na Hills, sealing its status as an internationally celebrated icon  

The World Travel Awards have continuously honored Ba Na with its highest accolades, from “Asia’s Leading Theme Park” to the “World’s Leading Iconic Tourist Attraction.” The Golden Bridge alone was crowned the “World’s Leading Iconic Tourist Bridge” for four consecutive years and was celebrated as a “New Wonder of the World” by the Daily Mail in 2021. 

From a wilderness peak to an engine of growth

Looking back on Da Nang’s tourism trajectory over the past two decades, Sun World Ba Na Hills has proven to be far more than just a mountain resort; it has acted as a strategic springboard, sparking an unprecedented renaissance for the entire local travel industry.

Between 2009 and 2018, visitor numbers to Ba Na surged more than 160-fold, propelling a dramatic 463% rise in total travelers pouring into Da Nang. During that same span, Da Nang International Airport evolved from a quiet gateway handling roughly 2 million passengers in 2009 into a buzzing international aviation hub welcoming over 13.3 million by 2018.

Radiant smiles from global wanderers enjoying their journeys above the mist at Sun World Ba Na Hills  

During the post-pandemic recovery era (2021–2024), Ba Na firmly safeguarded its role as an indispensable pillar of growth, accelerating nearly 22-fold. It became the vital catalyst that helped the total volume of accommodated visitors in Da Nang soar more than ninefold in just three years. Most recently, Agoda booking data in the first half of 2026 revealed that Da Nang had ascended to 6th place among Asia’s top repeat destinations – a powerful draw owed in large part to the enduring allure of signature icons like Sun World Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge. These vibrant figures are living testaments to Ba Na’s pioneering spirit in defining and elevating Da Nang on the world tourism stage.

Beyond milestone figures, Ba Na has maintained its status as a resilient, magnetic anchor: for three straight years (2022–2024), visitor growth held firm above 20% annually despite broader economic fluctuations. Behind this enduring momentum lies a large-scale operational ecosystem that provides secure livelihoods for thousands of direct and indirect workers throughout the supply chain.

From a forgotten wilderness to the beating heart of tourism, the journey toward ever-greater horizons continues to unfold 

Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo designated Da Nang to become one of the nation's three primary tourism growth poles alongside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Realizing this ambitious vision demands world-class landmarks like Sun World Ba Na Hills, globally recognized symbols like the Golden Bridge, and the dedicated stewardship of strategic investors like Sun Group, the vital keystones empowering the city to lead the tourism awakening across Central Vietnam and the nation.

Over the past 19 years, Mount Chua was not merely awakened; it continues to shine ever brighter across the world map. And as Sun World Ba Na Hills dreams of new summits, its journey marches onward – proudly asserting the stature of an inspiring Vietnamese tourism icon reaching for the world.