THÁI NGUYÊN — Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ has lauded the northern mountainous province of Thái Nguyên’s conditions for tourism development, particularly Núi Cốc Lake and the local tea culture. He spoke at a ceremony yesterday to announce a masterplan on developing the Núi Cốc Lake national tourism zone. 
The Deputy PM suggested attention should be paid to the maintenance and preservation of the environment within and around the lake, given that the lake also helps with irrigation, aquaculture and flood prevention. 
Huệ revealed that the Government would devise an action plan related to Việt Nam’s tourism restructuring for 2016-20, which focuses on tourism infrastructure, environment and products imbued with traditional cultural characteristics. 
According to the Deputy PM, the Government has directed ministries and agencies to refine policies regarding investment, taxation, fees, electricity and e-visas while strengthening State management in tourism. 
As part of the capital zone masterplan and the country’s third largest hub of human resources development, Thái Nguyên must become economically and militarily strong, he stated. 
Ten investment projects were signed at the event in the fields of electricity, tourism, infrastructure and telecommunications worth over VNĐ45 trillion (US$1.95 billion) in total, and a ceremony was held launching construction of the Núi Cốc Lake road, one of the first works in the masterplan. 
According to the plan, 1,200ha, exclusive of water surface, will be earmarked for the development of a national tourist area, which will offer sightseeing and resorts, water sports and community-based ecological services in association with the Tam Đảo national park in Quân Chu Commune. 
The lake is expected to be recognised as a national tourist area before 2025. By 2030, it looks to be a major ecological and resort centre and serve 4 million tourists, earning nearly VNĐ2 trillion ($86.9 million). 
The Deputy PM also attended a ceremony beginning the construction of a flood-proof system on Cầu River and completing urban infrastructure on two banks of the river. 
The project, costing over VNĐ18 trillion ($780 million), comprises nine components invested by a joint venture between Phúc Lộc Group and the Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CIENCO) No8 in a public-private partnership and build-transfer model. 
The Deputy PM emphasised that the adjustments aimed to develop Thái Nguyên into an economic, cultural, education, health care, tourism and service centre in the northern mountainous and midland region, and in the development of the northern key economic region.  — VNS