NHA TRANG – The central province of Khánh Hòa plans to make Nha Trang Beach an ecological park where seaside buildings can only have 40 floors at most.

The city would review space planning and could remove or make adjustments to buildings such as resorts, hotels and restaurants east of Trần Phú Street, which runs along the beach.

A master plan for Nha Trang approved by the then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2012 said buildings on Trần Phú Street and Phạm Văn Đồng Street could not be more than 40 floors tall. But then the province allowed companies to develop seaside high-rises to meet the needs of urbanisation. Many said this was a mistake in urban planning.

The presence of seaside high rises including 13-storey Lodge Hotel, the 11-storey Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel, the 12-storey Sunrise Nha Trang, 18-storey Novotel Nha Trang, 33-storey Sheraton Nha Trang and 46-storey Mường Thanh Hotel created a “wall” along Nha Trang Coast, blocking views and wind from the sea in inner residential areas and causing anger.

Nha Trang Bay, once seen as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, fell down onto a list of the world’s worst bays by the National Geographic Society’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations in 2010 due to "overdevelopment without a watchful eye".

The once-nice beaches are now packed with hotels and bars. So Lộc said residents and architects have applauded the province’s move to develop an ecological park along its coast.

Dr Nguyễn Quốc Tuân, a planning expert from Phương Đông University, said the province could face difficulties building the park because removing high-rise buildings near the shore would require funding, and agreement among authorities and investors.

Tuân told zing.vn provincial officials want to remove Anna Manara Resort to make room for the coastal ecological park.

Khánh Hòa Association of Architects Vice President Nguyễn Hoàng said the removal of coastal high-rises could help reduce environmental pollution and offer people more green space for entertainment and relaxation.

Tourism expert Phạm Minh Nhựt said it was not necessary to remove all seaside high-rise buildings along the 10-km beach. People still needed places where they could get food and drink, and use the bathroom. – VNS