Tourists at Hon Son Island, Kien Hai Special Economic Zone.
The beauty of the special zone
Dubbed a hidden gem in the southwestern sea of Vietnam, the Tho Chau Special Economic Zone boasts a pristine and peaceful beauty. It features primeval forests, diverse flora and fauna; stunningly beautiful beaches such as Ngu Beach, Dong Beach, Mun Beach, and Nhat Beach, with crystal-clear turquoise waters and sparkling coral reefs beneath the surface; unique local culture; and friendly, hospitable people, making it a place visitors will find hard to leave.
The Tho Chau Special Economic Zone comprises eight islands of varying sizes. Each island possesses its own unique beauty, with the largest Tho Chu Island having the greatest area and potential for economic development, especially tourism. Besides enjoying the fresh air, visitors to Tho Chau can also go trekking across the islands; rent boats to visit Nhan Island, Cao Island, Xanh Island, etc.; or go to the floating fish farms to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this coastal and island region.
The Kien Hai Special Economic Zone boasts stunning mountain scenery and dozens of islands of varying sizes. Hon Son and Nam Du are popular and well-loved destinations. The islands in this special zone possess many beautiful, pristine beaches, abundant seafood, and fresh air, making Kien Hai an attractive destination for eco- tourism and resort tourism.
Phu Quoc, even before becoming a special economic zone, was already a Class 1 city and a tourist paradise. It attracts numerous investment projects from leading domestic and international tourism corporations and brands such as Sun Group , Vingroup, BIM Group, Marriott International, Accor, and Curio Collection by Hilton, creating a world-class resort ecosystem stretching from the south to the north of the island.
Furthermore, Phu Quoc is being developed into a high-quality service and ecotourism center, a national and international-level destination for beach and island tourism. The infrastructure here has been comprehensively invested in, from an international airport to an international seaport, further solidifying Phu Quoc's important role in connecting Vietnam with ASEAN countries and major global economic centers.
Unleashing potential, reaching international standards.
Tho Chau Island holds a particularly important position in terms of national defense and security, situated in a strategic outpost in the southwestern sea region of Vietnam. However, the island's biggest challenge is that there is only one ferry trip to and from Phu Quoc each week. To pave the way for Tho Chau's development, in late December 2024, the People's Committee of Kien Giang Province (now An Giang Province) approved the plan to convert and expand the function of Tho Chau Port into an inland waterway port, assigning relevant units to complete and officially declare it as an inland waterway port according to regulations. This is considered a crucial turning point that will help Tho Chau develop tourism and effectively connect with Nam Du Island and Phu Quoc in the future.
According to tourism expert Pham Cong Son, who previously worked for many years as the general manager of a well-known tourism brand in Phu Quoc, to develop tourism in the Tho Chau Special Economic Zone, it is necessary to orient it towards sustainable, distinctive, and controlled development to preserve the unique identity of the remote island. This means that mass tourism development should be avoided, and instead, a specialized, high-quality approach with controlled visitor flow should be chosen, linked to marine and island ecotourism, academic tourism, conservation, and marine research.
Regarding the Kien Hai Special Economic Zone, expert Pham Cong Son believes that a comprehensive strategy is needed, encompassing planning, conservation, protection of the marine ecosystem and environment; development of connecting infrastructure, modern ports, and digitalization of tourism services; attracting investment in eco-resorts and standard homestays; organizing festivals, weekend seafood night markets, fishing village experience tours, and "live like an islander" tourism programs; building a brand identity for Kien Hai tourism; promoting it through digital platforms; collaborating with KOLs and travel bloggers; and linking with Phu Quoc, Ha Tien, and Can Tho… to create inter-regional tours and stimulate tourism demand. In particular, emphasis should be placed on training human resources and strengthening promotion and connections with international tourism.
Regarding Phu Quoc, Mr. Son affirmed that this special economic zone possesses all three core elements: preferential policies, synchronized infrastructure, and real growth momentum. To prepare for APEC 2027, a series of key infrastructure projects are being implemented with a total investment of hundreds of thousands of billions of VND. This is a strong boost that not only helps complete the island's infrastructure but also opens up significant growth potential in the post-APEC era. Therefore, the remaining task for this special economic zone is to build its brand as a global destination by strengthening international communication, organizing regional events such as tourism festivals and marine culture festivals, and creating sustainable livelihoods for local people.
According to the Director of the Department of Tourism, Bui Quoc Thai, Phu Quoc tourism has made a special impression on domestic and international tourists with its high-quality services. In particular, being chosen to host APEC 2027 is a double opportunity for Phu Quoc to develop to a new level. The Kien Hai and Tho Chau special economic zones need more preferential policies, especially regarding taxes, land policies, planning, visas, etc., to attract investment and support the take-off of tourism. “When tourism in these two special economic zones is strong, the formation of a triangular link between Phu Quoc, Kien Hai (especially Nam Du), and Tho Chau will certainly bring many new and unique experiences to tourists, helping this area become an attractive destination in the southwestern sea of the country…,” Mr. Thai stated.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nang-tam-du-lich-dac-khu-a424304.html
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