HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The southern coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tauhas exploited its natural beauty and taken advantages of its oil and gas sectorfor economic development, turning itself into a sustainably developed region inthe Southern Focal Economic Zone of Vietnam.

Situated about 3km to the southwestern of Vung Tau city, the 30sq.m Go Gang islandhas geological advantages and natural beauty. Go Gang Island is seen as a newarea where an economic zone could be established in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province.

The Construction Department of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province has proposedadjustments for functional areas of Go Gang Island on 1,389 ha, for apopulation of about 65,000, with 795ha of land to be used as urban constructionland. Buildings in the area could have up to 60 stories.

Go Gang island would have eight zones including residential areas, functionalcomplexes and public conveniences; parks and greenery, water surface, amusementparks, airport and ground services, infrastructure and a fishery centre.

When the Go Gang Airport becomes operational, the provincial authorities willhave 200ha of land for new urban area projects in Vung Tau city.

Two big urban area projects have been established, with one at Vung Tau airportwith an urban area of 35ha, a central park of 46ha, a logistics and servicecentre of 24ha, a financial and technological centre of 20ha; and an urbancomplex of 25ha.

The other project is located on 270ha in Ward 12 of Vung Tau city. Thisincludes a 60ha ecological urban area, a 20ha office and trade centre, a 15habusiness centre, the 25ha Marina Urban Area, a 15ha sport centre and square.

In addition to efforts to upgrade air transport facilities, Ba Ria – Vung Tau provincehas invested in land transport projects, especially a project to build the BienHoa – Vung Tau Expressway.

According to the province, the increase in traffic volume on National HighwayNo 51 (linking Ho Chi Minh City with Vung Tau city) and the rapid growth ofresidential areas along the expressway have overloaded the expressway in thelast few years.

This could be eased by the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway. Construction of theexpressway is scheduled to start in 2021 and be completed two years later. Thenew expressway would link Ba Ria – Vung Tau province with other localities inthe Southern Focal Economic Zone.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau has asked the central Government to conduct a feasibilitystudy to build a railroad to connect the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port under aPublic-Private Partnership.

In addition, transportation projects will connect with the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Portincluding Phước An Bridge, National Highway No 56 (to avoid Ba Ria City), Long Son– Cai Mep Highway, and the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Highway.

Tourism

With a coastal line of over 30km and Con Dao island, Ba Ria – Vung Tau provincehas advantages for tourism development. However, the provincial authoritieshave focused on the oil and gas sector and its deep-water seaports.

In recent years, the province has paid more attention to the tourism sector.Under the province’s plan for the next decade, it aims to welcome 8.6 millionvisitors (including 1.4 million foreign travellers) in 2025, bringing revenueof 31 trillion VND (1.33 billion USD).

Ba Ria – Vung Tau province is expected to maintain growth rate of 30 percent –35 percent annually for its tourism sector between 2020 and 2025.

The province’s planning for development of its tourism sector for the nextdecade also identifies priorities for investment projects until 2025 includingdevelopment of a tourism urban town (Vung Tau city), two national tourist zones(Con Dao, Long Hai – Phuoc Hai), sea and island tourist products, and tourismentertainment services.

The province will give priority to four tourism development programmes,including human resource development; regional tourism brand promotion;preservation, embellishment and development of tourism resources; and majortourism infrastructure facilities./.