By Thu Hằng

HCM CITY —  HCM City authorities plan to offer support to Cần Giờ District, the "green lung" of the city, to develop eco-tourism and resort tourism.

With a 13-km coastline and extensive mangrove forest intertwined with a dense system of rivers and canals as well as diverse flora and fauna, Cần Giờ has huge potential to develop eco-tourism, community-based tourism, and resort tourism, Lê Minh Dũng, chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, said.

The coastal district, 60km from downtown HCM City, is famous for its UNESCO Mangrove Biosphere Reserve Forest, Vàm Sát Ecological Tourist Zone, Monkey Island, and Whale Festival, which has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Its salt villages, swallow nest areas and seafood and fruit gardens are all appealing tourist attractions.

Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, said the tourism industry, however, had failed to fully tap the district’s potential because of a lack of accommodation, entertainment and restaurants.

“Many investors are interested in developing eco-luxury resort projects in Cần Giờ District. It’s a good opportunity to accelerate the district’s overall development as well as the tourism industry,” he said.

The Tuần Châu Group and Vingroup are developing two coastal luxury resorts that are expected to hasten tourism development.

The Tuần Châu Group has proposed building a resort on 300 hectares, while Vingroup has received approval to invest in a coastal urban zone covering more than 800 hectares in Cần Giờ District.

Tuyến also urged district authorities to promote investment from small- and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism industry.

He asked authorities of Cần Giờ District to draw up a plan for river and road tours to Cần Giờ from the city’s downtown.

The proposed tours should be designed with connections to tourist sites in the district, he said.

He also told the city’s Department of Tourism to work with the Department of Transport and travel agents to operate free shuttle buses for tourists to travel to Cần Giờ.

The city also plans to have one or two ferryboats and rest stops along rivers to serve tourists enjoying river tours.

The Đồng Hòa seafood market will be upgraded to offer fresh seafood dishes seafood products to tourists, he added. 

The district has developed seven tourist sites, three hotels, two restaurants and one shopping centre to serve tourists, according to the city’s Department of Tourism.

Over the last five years, the number of tourists visiting Cần Giờ District rose by 10 per cent each year, according to the district’s People’s Committee. 

Last year, it welcomed more than 1 million tourists, with tourism revenue estimated at VNĐ402.6 billion (US$17.81 million). More than 22,000 tourists bought river tours to Cần Giờ last year.

This year, the district has targeted 1.25 million tourist arrivals and revenue of VNĐ500 billion (US$22.12 million). — VNS