Phu Yen province is rich both in cultural relics and maritime resources to develop tourism. National Coastal Tourism 2011 in Phu Yen is an opportunity to promote tourism for the years to come. Reporter Thanh Quang interviewed Mr Tran Quang Nhat, Director of Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism, on tourism promotion in the province.
Can you please describe the province’s potential for sea tourism?
Phu Yen has a long coast of about 190 km with beautiful gulfs and beaches such as Cu Mong and O Loan lagoon, Vung Ro relic of the sea supply line during the last war, Xuan Dai and Cu Mong ancient historic battlefields, and Vung Lam port of ancient trade. In particular, the province has a national landscape of Da Dia cliff, a unique geological phenomenon and Bai Mon – Mui Dien Cape, the easternmost part which receives the sunrise earliest in Vietnam.
Nature has given Phu Yen over 20 beaches which can be developed into sea resorts, sports and tourism. The beaches are surrounded by mountains, white sand, blue sea and rows of coconut trees and sea pines. The province has also several cliffs and small islands along the coast such as Mai Nha, Yen, Cua, and Nua. With over 400 hectares of corals, the province can develop sea-tourism in the coming years. Meanwhile, hot springs of 50-70 degrees Celsius in Phu Sen, Lac Sanh, Tra O, and Triem Duc are suitable for medical treatment, health recovery and resorts.
Besides natural resources, Phu Yen is famous for historic and cultural relics. Cultural festivals of coastal areas are combined with folk songs and folk dances such as Ho Bai Choi, Ho Khoan, and Ho Keo Luoi. Traditional crafts make the local culture more colourful with fish sauce processing, pan cake rolls, and fine art made from sea shells and coconut shells. Phu Yen gastronomy is famous with Song Cau shell, Cu Mong craft, O Loan oyster, jelly fish salad, tuna salad and various kinds of fish sauce to meet diversified tastes of tourists.
As the main theme of National Tourism Year 2011 is sea-tourism, how has Phu Yen developed its sea- tourism potential in recent years?
Phu Yen is in the process of developing its sea-tourism. Some big projects are underway, such as the high class tourist complex in Hon Chua island by New City Vietnam Co., Ltd; Thien Duong Xuan Thien in Mai Nha Island by Xuan Thien Co., Ltd; and Hon Nua island eco-tourist centre by Varela company (Russia). Other projects will be developed along the 10 km of coastline from Tuy Hoa to Long Thuy as well as in Xuan Dai and O Loan gulfs and Da Dia cliff. In the near future, Phu Yen will be a new tourist destination for research, discovery and resorts.
Currently, Phu Yen has over 100 accommodation addresses including a 5-star Cendeluxe Thuan Thao hotel, two 4-star Kaya and Saigon–Phu Yen hotels, while a number of 4-5 star hotel projects are underway. In 2006-2010, the number of tourists increased on average of 31 percent a year including 34 percent foreign tourists, with total tourist turnover increasing 64 percent a year and lodging facilities increasing over 35 percent a year.
In preparation for Tourism Year 2011 and upgrading of sea tourism, Phu Yen has completed and put into operation coastal roads from Tuy Hoa to Da Dia cliff (35 km), from Tuy Hoa to Bai Mon – Mui Dien – Vung Ro, and from National Highway 1 to Da Dia (14 km). Passenger transport has been upgraded with hi-class buses and cars to meet tourists demand. Rehabilitation and construction have been accelerated in historic and cultural relics, including Thanh An Tho archeological site, Tran Phu birth place, Vung port, and Nui Nhan Park. The province is upgrading National Highway 25 and building Highway 29 linking Phu Yen with Central Highlands provinces and joining with the Trans-Asia Highway to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. In the coming years, the province will build a tunnel under Ca mountain pass and railway to the Central Highlands.
In 2011, together with National Tourism Year, Phu Yen will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the province, how will the province plan to promote tourism on this occasion?
In 2011, tourist and travel agencies inside and outside Phu Yen will promote programmes and tours such as the Southward tour, Northward tour, city tour, North Cau river tour, and Westward tour.
Based on Phu Yen socio-economic development plan to 2020 approved by the Prime Minister, the province will develop the tourism development plan to 2020. Accordingly, in 2011, concerned investors should accelerate implementation of projects already approved and licensed in Tuy Hoa, Long Thuy, Hon Chua, Hon Lao Mai Nha, and Hon Nua. It is a good opportunity for investors to introduce their products and future products to tourists in 2011 and the years to come.
On the same occasion, the province will introduce to investors new areas in Tu Nham, Xuan Hai and other beaches in Xuan Dai and Cu Mong gulfs, Ba Dia cliff as well as isolated wilderness beaches lining the 200 km coast of Phu Yen. The province will also attract investors to develop Van Hoa highland, reservoir of Song Hinh hydro power station, Ba Ha river, Han dam, hot springs in Phu Sen, Triem Duc and Tra O.
Vietnamese
