Tay Ninh becomes a highlight on the tourist map

Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh attracts tourists with many impressive structures. (Photo: Thanh Tan/VNA)

Nearly half a century of determination to restore the economy and society with correct and reasonable decisions of "the Party's will and the people's heart" from the Central to local levels, Tay Ninh - the poor border province of the past, has now "changed its skin and flesh."

Once again, promoting the combined strength of the "legendary bases of the people's hearts," the revolutionary bases in the South, the army and people of Tay Ninh have created an economic highlight, especially making their mark on the national tourism map.

Recovering after the war
Before 1975, the Southern Central Bureau Base, located in Tan Bien District, Tay Ninh Province - once considered the "Resistance Capital" of the South, located in the old forest on the southwestern border of the Fatherland, marked many important historical events, bringing the fierce resistance war against the US to an end, unifying the North and South (April 30, 1975).

However, the joy of peace did not last long, the wounds of war had not yet healed, the army and people of Tay Ninh continued to stand side by side with the forces of Military Region 7, coordinating with the Cambodian armed forces to completely overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime, firmly protecting the sovereignty of the southwestern border of the Fatherland.

Tay Ninh has stood up steadfastly with policies from the central to local levels. Tay Ninh is identified as having a particularly important strategic position in terms of security and defense due to its nearly 240km long border consisting of 5 districts and towns bordering Cambodia, with many trails and openings.

Currently, Tay Ninh has 16 border gates including: 3 international border gates (Moc Bai, Xa Mat and Tan Nam), 3 main border gates (Chang Riec, Ka Tum, Phuoc Tan) and 10 secondary border gates. This is a strength but also a huge challenge to help Tay Ninh develop throughout the journey of nearly half a century.

Since 2010, the National Target Program on New Rural Development, with the attention of the entire political system, has changed the face of the countryside, creating a foundation for the province's socio-economic development. Many rural areas in Tay Ninh province have "changed their skin", all 20/20 border communes of the province have reached the new rural finish line.

In 2023, the GRDP growth rate of the whole province will reach 6.12%, higher than the national average, ranking 2nd in the Southeast region; foreign investment attraction will increase by 8.5%, maintaining in the group of 15 provinces and cities attracting high FDI in the country. Export turnover will reach 6.6 billion USD, ranking 13th out of 63 provinces and cities; state budget revenue will reach 11,500 billion VND, exceeding the plan; for 5 consecutive years, it will be in the top 10 provinces and cities with the lowest poverty rate in the country. Political security, social order and safety, and national border sovereignty will always be stable, building a peaceful, friendly and cooperative border.

As of October 2024, Tay Ninh has 65/71 communes (92%) meeting new rural standards, the average criteria for communes meeting new rural standards is 18.1 criteria, of which, 25 communes (35%) meet advanced new rural standards; 3 communes (4%) meet model new rural standards, 1 district-level unit is recognized by the Prime Minister for completing the task of building new rural areas.

It is expected that by the end of 2024, there will be 3 more communes meeting new rural standards, bringing the total number of communes meeting new rural standards to 68/71 communes (95.7%), reaching 100% of the plan. The total state budget capital plan directly allocated to implement programs in 2024 is more than 719 billion VND.

In the period 202-2025, the economic scale of the province increased by 50% compared to the period 2015-2020. The economic structure shifted towards industrialization and modernization, the proportion of industry and services accounted for 76.8% of GRDP. The industrial production index increased by an average of 12.8%/year.

Tourists worship the tallest Buddha statue in Asia on top of Ba Den Mountain. (Photo: Thanh Tan/VNA)

Mr. Tran Van Chien, Vice Chairman of Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee, said that Tay Ninh's rural infrastructure system has been increasingly upgraded. The province has 4,630 km of rural roads and invested in renovating 272 irrigation works, ensuring irrigation for more than 28,520 hectares of agricultural land.

In particular, the whole province currently has 98 products recognized as OCOP products, including 1 potential 5-star product, which is being submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for evaluation and classification of national OCOP products.

The province has improved its educational infrastructure, healthcare system and cultural facilities, and improved the quality of life of its people. The average income per capita in rural areas is expected to reach VND68 million/person/year by the end of 2024. Thanks to this, the border areas in Tan Bien, Tan Chau, Chau Thanh, Ben Cau districts and Trang Bang town have gradually revived and are experiencing new developments.

Highlights on the tourist map
From an "unknown" border land, in the period of 2018-2024, Tay Ninh has emerged on the national tourism map. On average, Tay Ninh tourism attracts over 5 million visitors each year, contributing significantly to socio-economic development.

In particular, Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area is focused on investment to become the most unique tourist area in the Southeast; for 3 consecutive years (2022-2024), it is in the top 5 tourist destinations attracting the most visitors in the country.

Tay Ninh has identified tourism as one of the breakthroughs for socio-economic development of the province, making tourism a key economic sector of the province by 2030. Tay Ninh has focused on policies and resources to invest and upgrade the tourism industry.

Tourists visit the unique architecture of Tay Ninh Holy See. (Photo: Giang Phuong / VNA)

In particular, in recent years, the province's tourism industry has had bright colors thanks to "awakening" potentials and advantages such as: admiring the unique architecture of the Cao Dai Holy See of Tay Ninh; returning to the source at the "Capital of Resistance" - the Special National Historical Relic of the Southern Central Bureau Base; the over 300-year-old Linh Son Tien Thach Tu Pagoda (Ba Pagoda) on Ba Den Mountain; the thousand-year-old Chot Mat Tower relic...

Along with that are famous specialties with the brand name "very Tay Ninh" such as: Trang Bang rice paper, Tay Ninh shrimp salt, Ba Den custard apple, Tay Ninh vegetarian cuisine art...

In the first nine months of 2024, Tay Ninh tourist areas and spots attracted nearly 4.5 million visitors (up 7.1% over the same period, reaching 81.5% of the plan); total tourism revenue reached VND 2,384 billion (up 41.7% over the same period, reaching 103.7% of the plan).

Chairman of Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Ngoc said that tourism is a bright color in the overall socio-economic picture of the province in recent years. Tay Ninh is focusing on solutions to improve the investment environment, remove difficulties and obstacles, and support production and business.

In the past 9 months, production and business activities have shown a good recovery trend, with GRDP growth in the first 9 months reaching 7.2%. Policies and solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles have been and are proving effective.

In addition, a series of ideas and cooperation programs implemented by Tay Ninh have brought high efficiency in the digital age and cross-geographical connection. Tay Ninh has strengthened cooperation in tourism development with 6 provinces and cities in the Southeast region; signed a cooperation agreement on tourism development for the period 2024-2029 with Saigon Tourist Corporation (Saigontourist Group). This is an opportunity for Tay Ninh and localities in the region to promote the exploitation of the strengths of specific and typical products, through the construction and development of types of industrial tourism, river tourism, traditional craft villages, entertainment, culture... to meet the needs of tourists.

The province also strengthens tourism promotion with developed provinces and cities of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and connects and cooperates with Korean localities.

According to Mr. Tran Anh Minh, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tay Ninh province, a number of tourist areas and spots have been invested in and upgraded, products and services have been improved in quantity and quality. In particular, the number of tourists coming is increasing, consuming many products, foods, specialties, and handicrafts bearing the typical image of Tay Ninh./.

Source: VNA/Vietnam+

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/cua-ngo-tay-nam-vuon-minh-tay-ninh-thanh-diem-nhan-tren-ban-do-du-lich-a180955.html