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| (Photo: baobariavungtau.com.vn) |
The province is taking steps to make the most of sea tourism, an industry considered to be a major economic force in the current climate.Located just 90 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic and financial center, Ba Ria-Vung Tau is a confluence of roads, highways, seaports, and airports.
It is a strategic economic center for Vietnam’s southeastern region and a famous stop for domestic and foreign tourists. Its high-end beach resorts attract millions of visitors each year. The Binh Chau- Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve and the Binh Chau hot springs are places for relaxation and restoration.
Con Dao island with many small islets are great for scuba diving among the coral, or spending an afternoon fishing. The many historical and cultural relics in and around Ba Ria-Vung Tau and local folk festivals featuring the traditional culture of the coastal area furnish additional tourism possibilities.
Nguyen Van Trinh, former Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said “With 200 km of coastline, the province has focused on tapping local advantages. We will review future tourism projects to check which ones remain appropriate and which ones are not suitable any more. For the projects along the coastline, the provincial administration will cooperate with investors to invest in accommodations”.
“In the future, tourism projects like the Paradise tourism complex, the Atlantis project in Vung Tau city, the Safari Wild Animal Garden, and the Tourism Area Project in Xuyen Moc district should be involved in cleaning up the beaches and focus on their planning. We will consider investing in a water park and a Disneyland entertainment complex like in Hong Kong to attract more tourists”, said Mr Trinh.
Trinh said that the province will mobilize resources to turn Con Dao into a national tourism site which will retain its primitive beauty while meeting global standards of quality.
To shorten the travel time for visitors to Con Dao, in the second quarter of this year the province began testing a high-speed passenger ships between Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao Island.
The ship runs at a speed of 30 nautical miles per hour from Bach Dang Wharf and will operate all year round except for stormy days and poor conditions. Localities in Ba Ria-Vung Tau have implemented a number of plans to boost local tourism. Xuyen Moc district which has a coastal road has promulgated policies to attract large investors to local tourism.
Tran Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the provincial Tourism Department, said “To turn out qualified and outstanding tourist products requires Ba Ria-Vung Tau to get potential investors to invest in key projects like the Paradise tourism complex and the Con Dao national tourism complex.”
A provincial Party Congress resolution has defined tourism the province’s spearhead economic sector. This year the province hopes to attract more than 3.5 million visitors, up 14% from 2018.
