Binh Thuan Province Trying Utmost to Fully Tap Tourism Potential

 

The 1995 full solar eclipse brought 53,200 tourists to the province, 13,200 more than the previous year and including 5,300 foreign tourists. In 2004, the number of tourists had increased nearly three times to 1.5 million including 100,000 foreigners. In 2005, the number is expected at 1.7 million tourists. Since the application of the 40-hour working week and the improvement of the 198-km road from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thuan has become an ideal weekend time-out for the urban populace.

 

Realising that tourism can be a driving force for the local economy, the province has concentrated on the development of infrastructure, especially along the coast. In 2000-2005, some 50 per cent of the budget was spent for this purpose. As a result, two thirds of the 192-km road along the coast from Ham Tan to Bac Binh has been upgraded, meanwhile Bac Binh - Bao Loc road will be soon completed to take tourists from Da Lat mountain resort to Hoa Thang sea-tourism. Next year, 60 kilometres of road and a bridge will be built to complete the road along the coast. So far, 202 tourist projects have been licensed with registered capital of VND1,300 billion and seven foreign investment projects worth USUS$30 million. 67 Vietnamese and four foreign projects are already in operation. There are over 1,000 hotel rooms two thirds of which reach international standards in hotels that include Phu Hai, Dynasty, Doi Su resort, Novitel, Pandnus, Anh Duong, and Mui Ne.

 

The sunny coastline is endowed with natural beauty and exceptional products. While Mui Ne, Hon Rom and Ham Tan are the most attractive beaches, Co Thach is a must see continuous waves beating against multi-shaped rocks, the shore full of colourful gravel, and the legends told by the locals. Tourists can visit Co Thach temple on the mountain top by climbing the staircase or finding their own way among rocks and caves. Binh Thuan is also famous for its sand paintings invented by Artist Y Lan. The sand and its colours add life to the paintings.

 

The attraction of Binh Thuan is deep-rooted in its ancient culture: festivals of Cham ethnic with Poshanu tower of the last Champa dynasty, the 49-metre long lying Buddha statue, the resort city of Phan Thiet, festivals and fishermen’s games.

 

Binh Thuan also boasts unique products such as dragon fruit, grapes, dried squid and fish, oysters, Phan Thiet fish sauce, and Vinh Hao mineral water.

 

Binh Thuan Green Convergence Festival is another effort to attract investment for the sustainable development of the province in business, social and natural environments. Tourism development while preserving natural beauty can improve the health care such as Ta Cu hot spring and Vinh Hao mineral mud bath. On October 24, 2005, Viet Tin company (VITIC) has started the construction of Sao Mai - Mui Ne health centre in Phan Thiet city. The project will be inaugurated on April 30, 2006 and includes spas with water temperature from 16 to 32 degrees Celsius, mud baths from ordinary to three-star standards, bungalows, and sport and recreation centres. To meet the demand of foreign tourists, the province will develop windsurfing and MICE tourism.

 

Obviously, with its great potential, natural beauty and the Binh Thuan Green Convergence Festival, the province can increase tourism publicity and development, contributing to the economic growth and social welfare of the coastal province.