Seamless highway, coastal tourism.

In just 20 days, the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet sections of the expressway were opened to traffic, connecting nearly 150 km of roads through Binh Thuan province. This event is considered a "golden opportunity" to help the locality effectively exploit its potential and advantages, especially for the tourism industry, creating more favorable conditions to reach its full potential.

The smooth operation of the expressway will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the socio -economic development of Binh Thuan in the coming time, but in the short term, local tourism has already benefited. In fact, the opening of the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay section of the expressway (99 km long, with nearly 48 km passing through Binh Thuan province) on April 29th, coinciding with the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year, contributed to the tourism industry welcoming approximately 160,000 visitors, double the number from last year. Following the holiday, many accommodation establishments along the key tourist route of Ham Tien - Mui Ne and the southern area of Phan Thiet continued to have a stable number of bookings each weekend thanks to improved transportation.

*With the addition of highways, Binh Thuan province is becoming an even more attractive destination thanks to its strengths in beach and island tourism (Illustrative image).*

As for the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway section (100.8 km long), which opened on May 19th, it officially connects nearly 150 km of roads through Binh Thuan province. Thus, after traveling from Ho Chi Minh City on the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway section, it takes about two hours to reach the Ba Bau interchange (Ham Thuan Nam). If not going to Phan Thiet, one can then drive straight to Tuy Phong to explore the area… It can be said that opportunities are wide open for Binh Thuan's "non-polluting industry," as it boasts many picturesque natural landscapes, especially its strength in beach and island tourism (with 192 km of coastline and numerous islands and islets).

Currently, the province has nearly 600 accommodation establishments with approximately 18,000 rooms, including dozens of hotels and resorts rated 3-5 stars, creating a competitive advantage in attracting high-end tourists. Along with a climate of little rain, plenty of sunshine, and strong winds, local tourism is also favorable for year-round visits and has the conditions to develop various water sports and recreational activities such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, SUP paddling, or scuba diving to admire coral reefs…

Recently, Binh Thuan province has become an attractive destination for tourists from all over with two newly emerging "stars": Phu Quy (Phu Quy island district) and Cu Lao Cau (also known as Hon Cau, belonging to Tuy Phong district). These islands, surrounded by vast seas and sky, boast a pristine environment, unspoiled landscapes, and abundant seafood, have prompted many tourists to pack their bags and go immediately. Furthermore, media and social networks have contributed to making Phu Quy and Cu Lao Cau hotter than ever, becoming top destinations many tourists are eager to experience. Therefore, it is predicted that during the upcoming summer of 2023, with the hot weather, beach and island tourism could "boom" as the number of visitors continues to flock to the resorts and entertainment areas in Binh Thuan.

Mr. Manh Cuong (residing in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City) said that his family and relatives had previously visited Phan Thiet many times for weekend getaways, but the travel time was quite long, so they only stayed in the "resort capital." Now that the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway has connected the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet section, his family plans to take a trip to explore Hon Cau Island next month…

The advantages in external transportation and the attractiveness of coastal and island tourism are not found everywhere. The remaining issue is that the local authorities, relevant agencies, and the business community, including the people, need to grasp and take advantage of this "golden opportunity." This is especially important in ensuring security, safety, environmental hygiene, food safety, reasonable prices, and quality services… to work together to build and maintain the image and brand of Binh Thuan as a tourist destination.

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