Binh Thuan tourism: emerges from outstanding “Spotlights”

Strong development

The total solar eclipse in Phan Thiet at the end of October 1995 opened an opportunity for Binh Thuan to awaken its tourism potential and was also the first step for the local fledgling economy to shine strongly. Through this event, domestic and foreign investors started considering the extremely rich tourism resources of the southernmost coastal region of Central Vietnam. Since then, they have soon returned to study, promote investment registration, and boldly "pour capital" into a series of unprecedented-scale projects in the province.

According to experts, in the early years of the 21st century, there were no localities in Vietnam welcoming the investment wave in tourism projects as booming as in Binh Thuan. The fact shows that from a project on the Ham Tien - Mui Ne route, which was considered the first resort in Vietnam at that time, just a few years later Phan Thiet gradually became famous and an attractive destination as known as “The Vietnam’s Capital of Resorts”.

Since that moment, Binh Thuan has been chosen as an ideal vacation destination by many tourists; besides the beautiful long beaches, there is a list of typical landscapes such as Mui Ne flying dunes, Fairy stream, Bau Trang, Ke Ga Cape, Lady waterfall (Thac Ba). Moreover, there are many famous nature reserves (Ong mountain, Ta Cu mountain, Phu Quy island marine protected area, Lao Cau isle) and human resources (Po Sah Inu Cham tower), Duc Thanh School, Thuy Tu temple, Thay Thim Palace, Co Thach Pagoda, etc). Currently, not only the advantages of high-class beach resorts, sea sports, entertainment, etc Binh Thuan also focuses on developing "green" tourism products that preserve and promote resource values and environmental protection.

It is known that the whole province has nearly 600 accommodations and tourism businesses with a total of more than 17,430 rooms, not including nearly 1,000 apartments and tourist villas for rent. In addition, there are about 400 dining and shopping establishments and a variety of sports and entertainment services that are invested in and developed for the needs of most tourists visiting Binh Thuan

Outstanding “Spotlights”

With a coastline of 192 km, Binh Thuan has attracted investment projects to develop the "smokeless industry" not only in Phan Thiet but also expanding from Tuy Phong, Bac Binh to Ham Thuan Nam, La Gi, and Ham Tan. On the way to affirming the emerging destination, local tourism has confidently coordinated to organize many national and world-marked events such as Binh Thuan - Green Convergence, PWA Mui Ne World Cup Sad Windsurfing Tournament - Vietnam, Mui Ne International Sad Boat Festival - Vietnam, the 1st Vietnam International Hot Air Balloon Festival...

Binh Thuan tourism strives toward one of the leading destinations in the Asia-Pacific region (illustration).

In attracting investment projects, the locality has also invited many strategic investors, with experience and financial potential to deploy "highlight" projects, as a driving force for the province's tourism, continue to rise to the level of potential and advantages. As in Tien Thanh commune (in the south of Phan Thiet city), Novaland Group has implemented the NovaWorld Phan Thiet project covering an area of ​​about 1,000 hectares with a total investment of nearly 5 billion USD, towards becoming a "Super City of the Sea - Tourism - Health". This will be the Asia's leading destination, contributing to making Phan Thiet the world's leading destination for MICE and Wellness tourism.

Recently, the Prime Minister issued a Decision on the master plan for the development of Mui Ne National Tourist Area, Binh Thuan Province to 2025, with a vision towards 2030; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also has a decision to recognize Mui Ne as a national tourist area. Accordingly, Mui Ne and surrounding areas were chosen to become a priority area for tourism development in Vietnam, creating a strong step that led Binh Thuan to become an attractive and competitive destination in the region. Particularly in the locality, Resolution 06 of the Provincial Party Committee (term XIV) on tourism development to 2025, orientation to 2030 was issued right the moment Binh Thuan officially opened to welcome tourists back in the "new normal" period. Objectives: To develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector and a pillar of socio-economic development of the province; at the same time to build Mui Ne National Tourist Area to become one of the top Asia-Pacific destinations.

Along with gradually improving the external transportation system and focusing on promoting digital transformation, strengthening the promotion and advertising, Binh Thuan is believed to be not only a "highlight" on Vietnam's tourist map but also becomes an international destination soon in the future.

Before the sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Binh Thuan tourism always showed impressive growth both in terms of visitor arrivals and revenues from tourism. In 2019 particularly, the province welcomed 6,404 million visitors (equivalent to 512.77 times compared to 1992, ie an average increase of 26% per year); of which there were 774,000 international visitors (more than 80 times higher than in the first year of the province's re-establishment, an average increase of 17.65% per year). Meanwhile, the revenues from tourism activities in 2019 of the locality reached VND 15,200 billion, equal to 2,515.89 times compared to 1992, ie an average increase of 33.64% per year.