For years, the tourism development of Haiphong City has been not commensurate with local potential and advantages, partly due to the absence of strategic investors in the hospitality industry. In 2015, with a series of tourism infrastructure investment projects, many resort projects have been carried out and are expected to generate new development momentum for this sector.
More luxury tourism projects
For years, Haiphong City has been seeking deluxe hotel brands and it seems to be ended in late April 2015 when BRG Group started construction on a 5-star Hilton-branded hotel at 14 Tran Quang Khai Street (Hong Bang district). This complex consists of a 22-storey commercial building with 4-storeys underground, and 240 hotel rooms, 34 apartment-hotel rooms and a diverse services area like gym and spa, costing a total of VND2,200 billion. Especially, the complex has two conference rooms with 700 seats and 500 seats.
Vingroup, a real estate development group in Vietnam, is chasing the clock to build Vu Yen Island into a world-class amusement park, condominium and ecological park. In addition, Xuan Truong Group reportedly studied a spiritual tourism project in Cai Trap Island. Him Lam Group started construction on a tourism, urban and entertainment project in Hon Dau Island the first quarter of 2016.
Notably, tourism projects are not only concentrated in the downtown of the city where traffic connections are convenient, but investors opt for relatively distant areas. GIICO International Investment Group planned to invest US$2 billion into Venus Cat Ba project, which comprises an 18-hole golf course, luxury villas, international hospital, 5-star hotel, financial centre, premium entertainment park, 5-star resort and marina. Tuan Chau Group has surveyed and proposed investing in eight projects in Cat Ba, called "Cat Ba City Paradise", which includes Ha Long - Cat Ba Tower and a cable system, and a fleet of 99 five-star ships. These projects are estimated to need US$2.3 billion and expected to give a facelift to Cat Ba Island and make it a world top-class resort.
Creating favourable conditions for deployment
These projects utilise local ecotourism and leisure tourism potential of Haiphong City, especially marine tourism and grasp new opportunities from the near completion of synchronous transport infrastructure. When Cat Bi Airport upgrading is completed, more domestic and international routes will connect to the city. Once completed and put into use, Hanoi – Haiphong Freeway, which stretches to Ha Long City, coastal expressways, and National Road 10 will bring more tourists and investors to the city.
Big tourism investors in Haiphong City are well-known and well-reputed corporations in Vietnam. Each investor has its own objectives. For example, Vingroup focuses investment on building shopping malls and combined entertainment quarters as it has rich experience and strong competence in these. BRG Group meanwhile not only invests in a 5-star hotel in Haiphong as initially registered but also invests in other premium entertainment facilities, including Do Son high-grade golf course. Him Lam Group and Xuan Truong Group are very experienced in entertainment services and spiritual tourism. Hence, these are very promising projects. In many meetings between the city's leaders and investors, the city's leaders pledged to create most favourable conditions in mechanism and regulatory framework and administrative procedures for investors to deploy their projects efficiently.
The presence of major experienced corporations in Vietnam will help diversify tourism services, attract visitors and promote local tourism growth.
Duy Binh
Vietnamese
