Experience tourism with… rocks.

VHO - Officially opened to visitors on February 5th, Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area offers a different approach - where mountainous terrain, stone sculptures, and cultural memories combine to create a new experience for tourists.

Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area offers a different approach for visitors.

Finding a path for tourism from… rocks

Tourism in Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa has long been associated with images of beaches, islands, resorts, and beach-related recreational activities. However, with changing tourist demands, the search for tourism products with cultural depth and unique experiences is becoming a requirement not only for Nha Trang but for many localities nationwide.

The official opening of the Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area (Khanh Thanh Nam village, Suoi Dau commune, Khanh Hoa province) to serve tourists is a noteworthy experiment. More than simply adding another tourist attraction, this tourist area focuses on natural, artistic, and cultural elements, considering them as the foundation for creating a new tourism product.

Located about 10km from the center of Nha Trang, on Provincial Road 3, the tourist area is built on an area of ​​nearly 17 hectares, entirely based on the natural terrain of rocky mountains and Lun stream. The entire space was created primarily using handcrafted methods with the participation of sculptors.

This approach goes against the trend of industrialization and mass production in tourism development, but it opens up a slow, deep, and culturally rich approach.

Experience tourism with… rocks.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chau, Operations Director of Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area, the initial goal of the project was not to create a new "check-in" point, but to build an experiential space capable of telling a story.

"We want to create an impressive park through sculpture and installation art on rocks, thereby conveying the historical story of Nha Trang's formation and development, while showcasing the beauty of the mountains and forests alongside the familiar images of the sea and islands," Mr. Chau shared.

Based on that orientation, the zones were formed according to the natural flow of the terrain: the streamside area with art installations and stone sculptures; the spiritual garden; the Nha Trang pedestrian street; the area simulating submarines and warships... The walking paths wind along the mountain slopes and beside the stream, forcing visitors to move slowly and carefully observe every detail of the landscape.

Stone – a material that might seem rigid and unappealing – becomes the focal point of this aesthetic space. The original rocks of the mountains and forests are preserved, intentionally arranged, and combined with sculptures to create a rustic, authentic whole that is close to nature.

Stone is no longer an inanimate object; through the hands of sculptors, it becomes an attractive tourist product.

The most striking feature of the tourist area is the 1:1 scale replica of a submarine placed on the mountainside – a rare architectural feature not only in Vietnam but also in the world . The image of submarines and warships anchored amidst the mountainous landscape evokes a connection between the sea and the land, between the past and the present of the South Central coastal region.

Inside the submarine is a restaurant hall with a capacity of approximately 150 guests, combining a dining space with a display of famous wines from around the world. At the center is a display of traditional Vietnamese rice wine – a symbolic detail demonstrating respect for the local culture.

Experience the culture through stone carving.

Throughout the tourist area are cultural symbols associated with the history and beliefs of Khanh Hoa, recreated using modern sculptural language, such as the Dien Khanh Ancient Citadel, the Ponagar Tower - a spiritual symbol of the Cham people, or Long Son Pagoda with its peaceful and compassionate imagery. These symbols are not exact copies but are stylized and placed in harmonious relationship with the surrounding terrain, light, and landscape.

Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area has become a favorite destination for tourists in recent days.

According to sculptor Trinh Ba Dung, who directly created the artwork, each piece does not exist independently but "lives" with nature. Stone, water, forest trees, and light become part of the artwork, changing over time and according to the viewer's perception.

For tourists, the resort offers a different pace of experience compared to the bustling coastal and island areas. Ms. Nguyen Hien Minh (Nha Trang) shared: “I clearly feel the tranquility and depth of the space. Here, every step makes me pay more attention to the landscape, to the cultural details incorporated into the sculptures. It feels like walking in a storytelling space.”

According to many visitors, the appeal of the resort lies not in its scale or grandeur, but in its ability to inspire reflection. Visitors can stroll, take photos, watch the sunset on the hillside, or sit by the stream listening to the sound of flowing water – experiences that are "slow" but rich in emotion, fitting the trend of tourism seeking spiritual and cultural values.

Rocks have become a tourist attraction that draws and fascinates visitors.

In the context of Vietnam's tourism industry facing the need to innovate its development model towards sustainability, the emergence of the Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area can be considered a thought-provoking suggestion. Instead of expanding tourism space by replicating familiar models, this tourist area chooses to exploit the depth of culture and natural topography, considering them core resources.

Without prioritizing mass entertainment or chasing short-term trends, this destination adds a different dimension to Nha Trang tourism – a place where mountains, culture, history, and art coexist. From there, the image of Nha Trang is not only associated with the sea and islands, but also expands to encompass the inland cultural and ecological space.

From the perspective of a tourism, art, culture, and nature product, it can be seen that the greatest value of the Nha Trang Impression Submarine Tourist Area lies not in the submarine structure on the mountain, but in how it places culture at the heart of the tourism product.

When culture becomes the "main ingredient," tourism not only fulfills the need for sightseeing but also contributes to nurturing people's emotions, perceptions, and connections with the lands they visit.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/du-lich-trai-nghiem-cung-da-204121.html