Uniqlo, familiar in Japan, is opening its first store in the central Vietnamese seaside city of Da Nang. The opening is set for July 3, 2026. The location is the second floor of "AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe," developed by the Japanese company AEON. Just a five-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport, it's easy to stop by on your first day after arriving or for last-minute shopping before flying home. With a Japanese brand and a Japanese company putting down roots in central Vietnam at the same time, travelers who want to feel a connection to the area gain one more reassuring landmark.
The gist of the news
Fast Retailing, which operates Uniqlo, announced it will open its first Da Nang store, "UNIQLO AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe," on July 3. The sales floor is 1,547 square meters, making it the second store in central Vietnam after Hue. As a lead-up event, a pop-up will run from June 26 to July 1 at the foot of Da Nang's symbolic Dragon Bridge (East Bank Park on the Tran Hung Dao Street side). An experience space will be set up where visitors can actually pick up items such as UV-protection wear, sportswear, and classic T-shirts. Naoki Akiyama, president of Uniqlo Vietnam, commented that the company wants to deliver simple, high-quality "LifeWear" and a modern shopping experience while contributing to the city's development and cultural exchange.
Uniqlo's Vietnam expansion and Da Nang's retail scene today
Uniqlo first entered Vietnam in December 2019, with a store on Dong Khoi Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. At the time of opening, it drew attention as one of the largest stores even in Southeast Asia, and it has since expanded into major malls in urban areas, centered on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This rollout, banking on Vietnam's growth potential, is backed by a young population, rising incomes, and trust in "Japanese quality." This Da Nang expansion can be read as a move that shifts its footing one step forward, from the two big cities to a key city in the center of the country.
Until now, Da Nang has been known as a beach resort, a food destination, and a gateway to Hoi An, but when it came to large urban shopping facilities it lagged a step behind Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Now, Da Nang's first AEON Mall opens in early July. With a total area of about 30,000 square meters, it sits within a complex developed by the TTC Group, and about half of its specialty shops are said to be brands opening in Da Nang for the first time. The very fact that an indoor space where you can spend a whole rainy day or hot midday appears in the heart of the city broadens the options for a Da Nang trip. And one of its star tenants is Uniqlo.
Scale and dates (confirmed figures)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Store name | UNIQLO AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe |
| Opening date | July 3, 2026 |
| Location | Second floor, AEON Mall Da Nang Thanh Khe |
| Sales floor area | 1,547 square meters |
| Positioning | First store in Da Nang / second in central Vietnam (the first being Hue) |
| Pop-up period | June 26 to July 1 |
| Pop-up venue | East Bank Park at the foot of Dragon Bridge (Tran Hung Dao Street) |
| Total mall area | About 30,000 square meters |
| Distance from the airport | About a five-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport |
The figures are limited to those based on the announcing source and local tourism information. Because the mall's own opening spans a soft opening and a grand opening, with date wording varying by outlet, we've summarized it here as "early July." The Uniqlo store's opening date is confirmed as July 3.
Reactions from locals and users
Locally, voices of anticipation stand out that Da Nang will finally have a full set of large urban malls. The sentiment that "there'll be a place to spend a whole day besides Hoi An and the beaches" is coming first from local residents rather than from tourists.
From Vietnamese users who love Japanese brands, there's genuine welcome that "you can buy Uniqlo without going all the way to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City." Since the only place to encounter Uniqlo in central Vietnam had been Hue, the convenience of being able to stop by close to the airport is seen as a big plus.
And from a Japanese traveler's perspective, there's a practical sense of security that "even if you run short of clothes on the trip, you can top up with confidence." The reassurance of running into a familiar logo while traveling makes a first-time Da Nang feel closer to home. The fact that the lead-up pop-up highlights UV-protection wear is also seen as a lineup that makes sense in sun-drenched Da Nang.
Takeaways for Japanese travelers
This opening brings a small change to how you put together a Da Nang trip, because it becomes easier to travel light, setting off with less luggage and picking up what you need on the ground. At a five-minute drive from the airport, it's a good location to drop by when your arrival flight is early and there's time before check-in, or during the wait before your flight home.
Da Nang is a place where the sun and humidity take a toll, so "clothes that are more comfortable when bought on the spot", such as thin UV-protection outerwear, quick-drying innerwear, and beach-ready T-shirts, overlap with Uniqlo's strengths. The reassurance of getting items of nearly the same quality as in Japan, at a familiar sense of pricing, acts as a cushion that absorbs the unexpected parts of a trip. With about half of the mall's specialty shops opening in Da Nang for the first time, it can also serve as a base for "a trip with less moving around," where you wrap up meals, breaks, and a bit of shopping all in one place.
Ripple effects on retail and tourism
The Japanese brand Uniqlo moving into a mall developed by the Japanese company AEON: this combination raises the presence of Japanese retail in central Vietnam a notch. With about half of the specialty shops opening in Da Nang for the first time, it's also proof that Da Nang is starting to be seriously chosen as a landing spot for new brands, which had tended to concentrate in the two big cities.
On the tourism side, "urban shopping" is added as a new option to stays that had leaned toward the beaches and the ancient town of Hoi An. As indoor ways to spend time, less swayed by the weather, increase, it becomes easier to plan itineraries during the rainy season and the hottest hours, boosting overall satisfaction with a stay. The near-airport location also creates spending opportunities for people on short, transit-style stays, and should gradually help draw movement across the whole city.
Practical information (location, access, hours)
Store: UNIQLO AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe (second floor of AEON Mall Da Nang Thanh Khe)
Opening date: July 3, 2026
Access: About a five-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport. It's also easy to reach from the city center, and pairs well with airport use. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easy way to get there.
Pop-up: June 26 to July 1, at East Bank Park at the foot of Dragon Bridge (on the Tran Hung Dao Street side). You can experience Uniqlo's products a step ahead of the opening.
Hours: The mall itself is scheduled to open in early July. Specific hours will be announced to coincide with the opening, so we recommend checking official information before your visit.
Summary
Uniqlo's first move into Da Nang is more than just a new store opening. It's an event in which a Japanese brand and a Japanese company step into central Vietnam together, placing "familiar reassurance" just five minutes from the airport. By adding an urban base where you can spend time without worrying about the weather, to a Da Nang long defined by images of beaches and the ancient town, planning a trip becomes a good deal more flexible. Next time you visit Da Nang, try working this mall into your route on your first day after arriving or during the free time before flying home. Your luggage gets lighter, and the trip becomes a little more carefree.
Frequently asked questions
Q. When does the Uniqlo Da Nang store open?
A. It opens on July 3, 2026. The location is the second floor of AEON Mall Da Nang Thanh Khe, with a sales floor area of 1,547 square meters.
Q. How long does it take from the airport to the store?
A. About a five-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport. It's an easy stop right after arriving or during free time before flying home. Using a taxi or a ride-hailing app is convenient.
Q. Is there a chance to see Uniqlo products before the opening?
A. Yes. From June 26 to July 1, a pop-up will be held at East Bank Park at the foot of Dragon Bridge (on the Tran Hung Dao Street side), where you can experience items such as UV-protection wear, sportswear, and classic T-shirts ahead of time.
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