Phu Tho Promotes Investment in Tourism

Phu Tho is a province of picturesque landscapes where the Hung Kings founded the royal capital of ancient Van Lang, the first state of Vietnam. Rich in natural beauty and cultural values from the Hung dynasty, Phu Tho has comparative advantages in attracting tourists at home and abroad. Vietnam Business Forum discussed the province’s tourism development potential with Mr Nguyen Ngoc An, Director of  Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism. 

 

What are the comparative advantages of Phu Tho in tourism? 

A most important advantage of Phu Tho tourism is the fact that the province is the cradle of the Vietnamese nation. The province has 1,372 historic and cultural relics (73 of national standard and 202 of provincial standard). The Hung Temple complex was classified in 2009 as special national relic area. It is both a landscape and important historic and cultural relic for Vietnamese people. Meanwhile, non-tangible cultural values such as Phu Tho Xoan folk songs and Hung Vuong ritual ceremony are being submitted to UNESCO for recognition as non-tangible culture of mankind to be preserved. Phu Tho has also other festivals typical of Vietnamese tradition, such as Hung Vuong Ancestors Commemoration – Hung Temple, Au Co Temple, Tro Tram, etc. The province is also endowed with natural attractions such as Xuan Son national park with bio-diversity attracting tourists to discover networks of mountain caves, hot springs and waterfalls. Thanh Thuy mineral water is good for medical treatment. While Ao Chau lake with water sources from 99 big and small streams creates a picturesque view. Phu Tho is also famous for its historic relics such as resistance bases of Hien Luong, Van Thang, Ha Hoa and Lo River.

 

Could you tell us about the achievements of Phu Tho tourism in recent years? 

Though rich in natural resources, the province remains poor in tourism products. The XVI Party Convention of the province decided to develop tourism into a strong economic sector and the XVII Convention regarded tourism as one of the three economic spearheads for 2011-2015.

 

In 2010, tourism turnover of the province was VND250 billion, with growth of 15.8 percent and 5,890,000 tourists. With a tourism workforce of 12,700 people, the province is trying to promote tourism investments.  In 2005-2010, investments have been attracted to South Hung Temple tourist project, Xuan Son national park, Thanh Thuy hot spring, and Tam Nong - Dream City resort. These projects will promote tourism in the province. 

 

However, the achievements attained so far failed to match our potential. Phu Tho remains a poor mountainous province with backward and incomplete infrastructure, tourism products of weak competitiveness, and without strong investors investing in big tourism projects.

 

To develop its natural resources and potential, Phu Tho tourism will focus on the following measures: 

One, the province will develop infrastructure and services such as road networks linking major tourist centres (Hung Temple – Xuan Son, Viet Tri – Van Hoi lake, Viet Tri – Xuan Quang) and upgrade key cultural projects (Hung Vuong square, Hung Vuong tower). 

 

Two, investments will be increased in developing special tourist products in three areas: festivals, resort-recreation and eco-tourism. 

 

Three, human resources will be developed to ensure high quality and sufficient quantity, meeting the increasing demand for tourism development. 

 

The province will also apply preferential treatment to attract investments especially in tourism. On August 27, 2009, Chairman of Phu Tho People’s Committee signed Decision 2478/2009/QD-UBND on assistance to investment projects in the province regarding land use, infrastructure, planning, trade promotion, water and power supply. The assistance will, no doubt, encourage investments in Phu Tho tourism and make Viet Tri a city of festivals.