Da Nang reassures public over rumored Son Tra cable car plan A corner of Son Tra Peninsula is seen from Ban Co Peak in Da Nang City, located in central Vietnam. Tuoi Tre The Da Nang administration has had to reassure angry residents and experts that any plan to build a cable car system on top of a mountain in Son Tra Peninsula, dubbed the Vietnamese city’s lungs, is only “an idea,” rather than an official project. Rumors circulated last week that Da Nang officials had allowed local realty developer Sun Group to build a cable car system on Son Tra Peninsula. The cable car system is rumored to be able to bring tourists from Dai Duong (Ocean) Park to the Ban Co (Chess Table) Peak of Son Tra Mountain, a must-see attraction of the peninsula, facing the East Vietnam Sea. Seven kilometers from the heart of Da Nang, the forest-covered Son Tra Peninsula has become increasingly attractive as a tourist retreat. The forests and mountains of the peninsula offer tourists a pristine seascape away from the hustle and bustle of the city. As building a cable car to the mountain is likely to severely impact the ecosystem of the peninsula, members of the public and experts in Da Nang have expressed their anger at the rumored plan. However, Da Nang chairman Huynh Duc Tho said on Monday that there has yet to be any official ruling regarding a potential Son Tra Mountain cable car. “I can confirm that Da Nang leaders have never discussed building a cable car system,” he said at a meeting with multiple municipal departments and agencies. “The city’s administration has also tasked no developer or investor with studying the feasibility of such a project.” An aerial view of Son Tra Peninsula. Photo: Tuoi Tre The rumor appears to be based on a recent exchange of documents between the city’s tourism department and its construction counterpart. The construction department said it had received a proposal from one company to build the cable car system in Son Tra, and asked its tourism department for its opinion. In response, the tourism department said it backed the idea, as a cable car system would offer more services to tourists at Ban Co Peak. The two departments shared the idea that the cable car, if built, would run from the foot of Son Tra Mountain, where  Dai Duong Park is located, to the Ban Co Peak. Vu Quang Hung, director of the construction department, confirmed at Monday’s meeting that the two departments had exchanged documents on the cable car idea. However, he said this type of exchange is “common practice” between departments before an official report or proposal is made and submitted to the city’s administration. “There is nothing specific about the project yet,” he said. Unnecessary project Tho, the city’s chairman, also said it was normal for departments to discuss an issue with each other. “Only when the city’s leaders start discussing the issue and make specific directives and orders will the issue be considered under official consideration,” he added. The Son Tra Peninsula is surrounded by an arc of beaches popular with tourists such as Tien Sa, Da Den, Bai But and Bai Rang. Visitors to Son Tra Peninsula also have the chance to admire the gorgeous red-shanked douc, which boasts a distinctive coat of five different colors and is considered the ‘queen’ of the primate world. According to experts, the proud primate is native to the Indochina region, but these days can only be observed in their natural habitat in Son Tra. A group of red-shanked douc on Son Tra Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Truong Sinh The Ban Co Peak, which is 696 meters above sea level, is accessible via several trails from the ground, or a concrete road where visitors can easily scale the mountain via motorbikes or cars. Given that it is not really difficult to reach the Ban Co Peak, the cable car has been deemed unnecessary by many. “The city’s view is that Son Tra is a precious treasure that nature has given to Da Nang, so these green lungs need to be protected,” city chairman Tho said. “The city will be particularly careful and prudent when considering anything relevant to Son Tra Peninsula, with the ultimate goal to ensure the mutual interests of residents.” Later on Monday, a Sun Group representative told Tuoi Tre that the cable car system will “give tourists a new experience and one more way to enjoy the entire peninsula from above.” The representative added that Sun Group acknowledged that every proposal needs to consider feedback from construction and environmental experts before a final conclusion is made. Tourists take a group photo next to the "God playing chess" statue on Ban Co Peak. Photo: Tuoi Tre TUOI TRE NEWS