Binh Thuan province plans massive national tourism area

The coastal province of Binh Thuan in central Vietnam has just approved a long-term plan to build the “Mui Ne National Tourist Area” covering 14,760 hectares.

The plan to build the area (until 2040 with vision extended to 2050) was approved by Binh Thuan People’s Council, the province’s legislative arm, on Saturday.

Accordingly, the tourism area will expand to the north and west, covering 6,625 hectares of Phan Thiet Town (comprising the wards of Mui Ne, Ham Tien, Phu Hai, and Thien Nghiep communes); 7,165 hectares of Bac Binh district (Hoa Thang and Hong Phong communes); and 970 hectares of Tuy Phong district (Phan Ri Cua town).

This national tourist area will comprise three subdivisions: the Phu Hai-Ham Tien coastal tourism-urban area; Nam Hong Phong coastal tourism area and Mui Ne tourism-urban area; and Hoa Thang urban center area.

It will develop all types of marine tourism including entertainment, sports, resorts and healthcare, as well as agriculture eco-tourism and trade.

The province will prioritize infrastructure investment including the upgrading of some roads connecting localities with the Mui Ne-Phan Ri coastal road, the road to Phan Thiet airport, the Phan Thanh-Hoa Thang road, and the Hong Thai-Hong Thang road.

It will also invest in several marinas - one in Tuy Phong district, three in Bac Binh district, and four in Phan Thiet town. A dike system will be built to protect beaches in tourist areas by preventing erosion and reducing the impacts of climate change.

Mui Ne had shot into the national and international tourism limelight in 1995 as a spot to watch the total solar eclipse from.

The province expects the Mui Ne national tourist area to welcome 14 million visitors by 2030, including 2.5 million international visitors; 25 million visitors by 2040 (six million international visitors); and 35 million by 2050 (11 million international visitors).

The provincial People's Committee will complete project documents and send them to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal and submission to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for approval.

The beach town of Mui Ne along the central coast was the only Vietnamese representative to make the list of the world's six cheapest destinations for an autumn holiday by Dutch-based online travel agency Booking.com in October this year.