HCM CITY  --  HCM City authorities have unveiled plans to expand the Cần Giờ Beach Tourist Zone by nearly five times to 2,870ha.

It will have a 750.6ha functional area with greenery and parks, tourism facilities and space for transport infrastructure and a 2,119.37ha area with space for infrastructure and land for defence purposes.

It will straddle Long Hoà Commune and Cần Thạnh township in Cần Giờ District.

It will cost over VNĐ217 trillion (over US$9 billion).

In documents sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the developer, Cần Giờ Urban and Tourism JSC, said construction would take 11 years.

It said there would be no residential areas in the 2,870ha zone but would affect 767 households making a living farming oysters in Long Hoà Commune and Cần Thạnh town and 232 fishing boats.

The developer has reached agreement for compensation with the oyster farmers.

Cần Giờ Urban and Tourism JSC will also co-ordinate with local authorities to help local residents improve their living conditions.

It will give priority to helping people living in areas affected by the project find livelihoods and creating favourable conditions for them to learn a trade or to find jobs.

Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said if the plan to expand the zone was approved by the Government, city authorities would co-ordinate with the developer to provide support to affected families.

A spokesperson for the Cần Giờ Urban and Tourism JSC said the expansion was expected to foster the socio-economic development of Cần Giờ.

“The development of such a beach tourism project will help improve local people’s living standards,” Nguyễn Văn Hùng, a resident of Cần Giờ District, 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.