It gradually developed into a commercial port replacing Hoi An
in the early 18th century, when European shipbuilding was improved and
large deep draught vessels could easily enter Danang Bay.
In
1835, after King Minh Mang ordered: "European vessels are not allowed
to anchor to do trade at any harbours except for Han Port", Danang
became the largest commercial port in the central region. The local
small-scale industries, including shipbuilding, preliminary processing
of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and trade, services
prospered accordingly. The French colonists, after establishing their
domination of the whole of Vietnam in 1889, separated Danang from Quang
Nam Province and renamed the city Tourane and under the control of the
Governor General of Indochina.
In the early 20th century,
Tourane was developed on a European model, which focused on social
infrastructure and manufacture technology. Many kinds of economic
activity took shape and thrived, such as agricultural production,
small-scale industries, export product processing (tea, food,
beverages, ice, alcohol, fish sauce, dried fish), ship building and
repair, and services. Together with Hai Phong and Sai Gon, Tourane
became an important trading center of the country.
In 1950,
French gave the authority over the city to the Bao Dai government. In
March 1965, American marine units landed and started to set up a big
military complex. The city was defined as a centrally governed city in
1967, and accordingly American troops and the Saigon government built
up Danang into a political, military and cultural center of the 1st and
2nd tactical zones. Military bases and such infrastructure as the
airport, ports, warehouses, roads, public works, communication
stations, and banks were constructed. Industries flourished, resulting
in the substitution by industrial zones of handicraft workshops. For
example, Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone was used for oxygen, acetylene and
detergent production, grind and textiles industries. However, the
devastating war made thousands of rural people flee in refugee camps.
Urban slums appeared, social evils increased and production came to a
standstill.
In 1975, after gaining complete independence,
Danang (temporarily under Quang Nam - Da Nang Province) began to
overcome the war's severe consequences. Regardless of difficulties, the
city's rehabilitation and development had some results, especially
after the renovation in 1986.
On 6 July 1996, the tenth session
of the 9th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
passed a Resolution separating Quang Nam - Danang Province into Quang
Nam Province and Danang city, which was directly responsible to the
central government. The new city of Danang consisted of the previous
Danang, Hoa Vang Rural District and Hoang Sa Island District.