6:33:32 PM | 24/4/2006
Binh Thuan was once known as a place burnt by the sun and blown by wind. Plants, animals and people in the province live in harsh conditions of the nature. However, ‘adversity brings wisdom’ and the local people have striven to overcome difficulties for better living conditions.
Turning ‘disadvantages’ into ‘advantage’
The story of tourism development in Binh Thuan started with the fact that Mui Ne in the province was the only place in Vietnam people could see the total solar eclipse in 1995. At that moment, people flocked to Mui Ne beach to witness the phenomenon despite difficult communication conditions. People then found that the place they went to for watching solar eclipse was wonderful with long white soft sand bank, and healthy climatic conditions.
Why should the place not become a tourist attraction? People found that what had been considered as disadvantages of the place could become unexpected advantages. For example, the hot weather in the region is precious in comparison with other cold regions. Wind in the region has created a beautiful shape of coconut trees along the coast, inspiring aquatic games. The wind and sand in the region have become an inspiration for photographers.
Having become aware of the advantages, the local authorities sent its cadres to other localities to learn how to develop tourism and find capital sources for the purpose. As a result, a road from Phan Thiet city to Hon Rom islet was built. In a short time, the road was open to traffic, then electricity, water, telephone and Internet services have become available in the region. The province has issued policies on investment encouragement, stating that favourable conditions should be created for investors.
Therefore, in a few short years, the Ham Tien-Mui Ne–Hon Rom region has turned into a famous tourism attraction. In particular, with over 70 resorts, Binh Thuan has become the ‘capital’ of resorts. Some of which have become very famous, such Victoria, Saigon–Mui Ne, Phu Hai, Lang Tre, Vinh Suong, Thuy Sy (Swiss) village, Coco Beach, Trang Tron, Hoang Ngoc and Rach Dua. Each resort has its own style and features.
Visiting Mui Ne, people cannot miss out on an evening walk. Mui Ne by night is lively with lights of bars, billiards centres, restaurants and entertainment areas. Sections of coconnut trees are ideal places for a romantic interlude.
Potential everywhere
After the initial successes in the Mui Ne-Hon Rom area, Binh Thuan continues to open new tour routes along Tan Thanh beach. The province has built a road from Phan Thiet city to Tan Thanh and Ke Ga. The region still remains neglected with few people and beautiful scenery. In particular, Ke Ga, boasting a lighthouse with unique architectural features, has become a favourite site. The region has attracted 79 tourism projects, of which 35 projects have been implemented and five others, such as Doi Su, Anh Duong, The Gioi Xanh, Vuong Da and Binh Yen, have become operational.
The province has planned larger areas for these projects so investors can build facilities to meet the demand of a variety of tourists. At the same time, the province has encouraged investors to create specific services and link their services up to increase investment effectiveness. For example, Doi Su has unique gardens of cactus, Anh Duong has tennis courts and Vuon Da provides mud bath services.
Ngo Minh Chinh, director of the Binh Thuan Department of Tourism, said that in the past difficulties could be seen everywhere, at present, advantages have been found in every corner of the region. Indeed, Binh Thuan has many different landscapes along a 192 kilometre coastline, let alone famous historical relic sites, such Thay Thim temple, Duc Thanh School, Mr Hoang’s castle with memories of famous poet Han Mac Tu, Van Thuy Tu temple, and Cham towers. Binh Thuan is home to Cham people, whose have precious cultural treasury with festivals and activities depicting the daily life of people living in coastal areas. Binh Thuan has great potential for tourism development. The province is calling for more investors and visitors who will awake its potential.
Song Phuong
Vietnamese
