Da Nang residents escape heat at mountain streams

For more than a week, the coastal city has endured intense heat, prompting many to swap crowded beaches for natural streams and eco-tourism sites.

At Khe Ram stream in Hai Van Ward, visitors immerse themselves in crystal-clear water flowing from the mountains, with some soaking for hours.

Phan Thi Nguyet, a tourist from Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, said the mountain streams offered a cooler, less crowded alternative to the beach.

“If we go to the beach, we have to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the harsh sun. Here, it’s cooler, the scenery is beautiful, and there’s no crowding,” she said, adding her family plans to visit other eco-tourism areas along the Cu De River in the next few days.

Many groups of young people have also flocked to the headwaters of the Cu De River to relax in the shade and enjoy fresh air.

While outside temperatures hover around 39-40 degrees Celsius, streamside areas stay just over 20 degrees Celsius, another visitor said.

Local authorities warn, however, that some sections of the streams have deep water and pose drowning risks.

Hai Van Ward officials have installed warning signs, banned swimming at hazardous spots, and are planning fences at Vung Bot to prevent access.

Patrols and lifeguard stations are planned at key sites, Nguyen Thuc Dung, chairman of the Hai Van Ward administration, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Authorities urge visitors to wear life jackets, avoid swimming in deep or fast-flowing areas, and clean up after themselves to preserve the environment.