Tay Ninh Tourism: Potential and Prospects

Tay Ninh has more advantages than most Eastern provinces in tourism development. Close to Ho Chi Minh City, bordering Cambodia with several border gates and commercial activities, the province also boasts Ba Den mountain, the highest in South Vietnam, many historic relics, and the Trans-Asia highway through Moc Bai border gate. Those advantages will promote socio-economic development, including tourism.

 

The province has developed a diverse range of tourist products attracting a great number of tourists each year.

 

Historical tourism and pilgrimage sites attract visits to the sites of former headquarters during the war of the Party and Government offices, Ba Den mountain with network of temples and pagodas and romantic landscapes, the former battle fields at mountain caves Kim Quang, Huyen Mon, Thien Thai, Cay Da, Ong Ta and Ong Ho.

 

Cultural tourism and religious rituals can be found in Ba Den mountain during holidays and week-ends. In 2005, 1,8 million tourists visited Tay Ninh including 10-12% foreigners, 1.5 million of them visited Ba Den mountain and 750,000 visited Chua Ba by cable cars. After Nui Ba mountain, they also visited Cao Dai Holy See, an unique architecture built in 1926 in an area of 100 hectares. Other rituals are Tra Vong and those of Khmer, Cham and Stieng ethnic people.

 

Eco-tourism is also being developed in Tay Ninh. Dau Tieng reservoir on 27,000 hectares, over 1.5 billion cubic metres of water and several romantic islets are ideal places for eco-tourism, relaxation, hunting, fishing and water sports and games. Then, Lo Go – Xa Mat national park with an area of 18,800 hectares covering four communes Tan Lap, Tan Binh, Hoa Hiep and Thanh Tay (Tan Bien district) is a submerged region with rare botanical species, most attractive for camping and visiting former battle fields. Eco-tourism can also be developed in Ma Thien Lanh. Moc Bai border gate, Vam Co Dong river and Chang Riec forest.

 

In addition, Tay Ninh can develop mountain climbing, adventure tour conquering Ba Den mountain peak, discovering caves and antiquity researching at temples and pagodas, especially two ancient towers in Binh Thanh (Trang Bang district) and Chot Mat (Tan Bien district), visiting craft villages and tasting special gastronomy of Tay Ninh.

 

In 2005, Vietnam tourism received 16 million local and 3.6 million foreign tourists, 1,8 million have come to Tay Ninh, increasing the turnover from VND23 billion in 2004 to nearly VND48 billion in 2005.

 

In the coming years, Tay Ninh Tourism Company will be equitized and become a trade and tourism joint stock company; infrastructure will be developed in Ba Den mountain area and Dau Tieng reservoir; tourist tours will be expanded in the province, neighbouring provinces and foreign countries. Special linkage will be developed with Ho Chi Minh City to attract tourists from the city as well as from Cambodia and Thailand through Moc Bai and Xa Mat border gates.

 

More tourist products and sites of high quality will be introduced. Local and foreign investments will be encouraged to upgrade hotels to international standards. The province will call for investments in tourist sites in Ba Den mountain, Ma Thien Lanh eco-tourism, Dau Tieng reservoir, Lo Go – Xa Mat national part, Bau Ca Na cultural tourism and Moc Bai border gate. Priorities will be given to such projects as mountain climbing, adventure tour, boat racing and fishing. At the same time, the province will launch a promotion programme and develop human resources to meet the increasing demand of tourism in the period of integration.

 

According to Mr. Do Thanh Hoa, Director of Tay Ninh Trade and Tourism Department, with its correct policy and great potentials, tourism will soon become a spearheaded industry of the province.