World Heritage Road in Vietnam - Idea Realised to Create Big Trademark
It is not coincidence that the name of the World Heritage Road (WHR) in Vietnam or the Central Heritage Road is often mentioned in Central Vietnam.
This is both a route through Central Vietnam and the name of the project to develop and promote tourism in the region. In fact, it was initially an idea of Paul Stoll, General Director of the five-star Furama Resort in Danang City, which emerged in late June 2001. In 2002, it became reality. Paul realised that Furama lies in a chain of Vietnam's most potential relics and tourist sites which are also considered unique in the world. The WHR will run from the central Vinh City to the central highland Da Lat City, awakening the tourism potentiality of this long-suffering but legendary land. The route also creates a network along the East-West Corridor, passing Highway 9, linking Myanmar, India, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
The route incorporates five world heritage sites in the region while the attractive tourist products of seventeen Central and Central Highlands provinces will add to create an international tourism trademark. The route will lead travelers through Phong Nha-Ke Bang-Hue, Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Ancient Hoi An Town, to holly My Son land and Central Highlands region.
Experts forecast that in the next five years, provinces of Quang Binh, Hue, Danang and Quang Nam will absorb the highest number of visitors among other provinces and cities. Many international shipping firms and airlines have plans to set up passenger carrying routes to the region.
The executive board of The WHR has been set up, including chief representative of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, general secretary (Paul Stoll) and directors of tourism departments of central provinces. Over 120 enterprises have registered to become partners and members of the program.
The result is evident with 15 per cent of the total number of travelers to Central Vietnam visiting the World Heritage Road. Twelve travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have allied lately with the Vietnam Tourism Company in Danang to realise the "Happy Holiday - Heritage Journey" with destinations in Central Vietnam, targeting higher number of visitors, bringing the regional hospitality industry to a new height.
As Lunar New Year approaches, VIB Forum has interviewed some senior officials in the central provinces, concerning the development of tourism along with the WHR.
Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Binh Province Phan Lam Phuong: "We became official members of Vietnam's WHR in 2004"
In 2004, UNESCO recognised the province's Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park the World Natural Heritage which will obviously be an official member of the Vietnam Road of World Heritage. This really is a favorable condition for the development of the province's hospitality industry. The number of tourists coming to Quang Binh went up by 30 per cent last year and the turnover was correspondingly up by 25 per cent. This is a good sign. The matter is we must associate heritages for better development.
It must be asserted that the values of Phong Nha-Ke Bang have yet to be fully discovered. Phong Nha Cave, for instance, has only 600m of its total 14km explored. Reserving and at the same time promoting its economic, cultural and tourist potential is an extremely difficult job which must be based on the awareness of local people in adjacent areas who have long lived on wood exploitation and hunting. In the long run, there must be a programme to help them stabilise their living, such as a German-invested US$15 million project. We are making comprehensive planning on Phong Nha-Ke Bang to call on investment. Good news has come as some companies have brought tourist projects worth hundreds of billion of dong into the province.
The Central Heritage Road is wide opening to Quang Binh. Tourism will be one of our key economic sectors in the coming years.
"We focus on sustainable tourism development"
Nguyen Xuan Ly, Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue's People's Committee
Hue was once known as the most ancient capital city of Vietnam. It is well known as the land of tourism and also the convergence of cultural values. As a member of the WHR, we understand that we must deal better with the relation between culture and tourism, creating an interactive alliance between these two important areas. The culture of Hue and Vietnam's peoples is the premise for the growth of tourism and vice versa, it will help raise the quality of the restoration of cultural values.
Priority is given to the restoration of well-known cultural relics such as Dien Tho Palace, Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square, Phu Van Lau Park, Nghinh Luong Communal House, Gia Hoi Ancient Street, and some garden-houses in Gia Hoi and Kim Long. On the other hand, traditional performance arts like UNESCO-recognised Nha nhac (Royal music), Hue classical drama, and calligraphy are also paid heed.
Thua Thien Hue currently has 126 hotels (with total 3,350 rooms and 6,700 beds), of which 40 are recognised to meet the Minimum Common Competency Standard of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Hue has become the country's pride and common interest. The province must build and equip with itself a clean industry, advanced technology and high quality products which are seen a basis for the development of tourism and socio-economy.
"Visiting the WHR, visitors will have good impression of Vietnam, the Central and Central Highlands regions today."
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of People's Committee of Quang Nam Province
Quang Nam has been bestowed with rich resources for tourism development. It has hundreds of cultural and historic relics, including the two world heritage sites: ancient Hoi An Town and My Son Holy Land, where a once brilliant Champa Culture flourished. Quang Nam's jungles that link with the life of ethnic people will help visitors rediscover the roots of the culture. Convenient transport positions will be a launching ramp for the province's tourism to take off.
In 2005, Quang Nam will embark on two important programmes at the same time: developing tourism and protecting sites recognised by the World Heritage. Tens of foreign-invested projects on famous resorts in 2003-2004 period are to be better managed to promote its effectiveness. Hundreds of thousands of travelers come to Quang Nam annually, mostly in tours from major tourism centres such as Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang and Thua Thien Hue that help lay a premise for the development of local hospitality industry. In 2004, the province successfully organised the anniversary of five years since Hoi An and My Son being recognised by the world heritage, and the impressive second anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan Culture, which add to lure more visitors.
As a member of the executive board of The World Heritage Road, the province will continue to pay special attention to the non-smoking industry as one of its key economic sector. "Central Heritage Road" will be popularised through the mass media, catalogues distributed in tours, trade fairs, festivities and the Centre for Investment Promotion. The Central Heritage Road in general and Quang Nam as a particular part of that route must create a prestigious and international trademark.
"Danang will become a travel city"
Hoang Tuan Anh, Chairman of Danang City's People's Committee
With a target of shifting the economic structure to service-industry-agriculture, of which tourism is a focus, Danang has gradually completed its infrastructure system to become Vietnam's major tourism centre, a transit centre for goods and services of the central and central highlands regions.
In 2004, the city conducted many programs to promote tourism. Specific projects were the planned for the Son Tra Peninsula, southern area of Non Nuoc and Co Co River. Many tourism development projects have been developed such as the touring road along Son Tra-Dien Ngoc Sea, resorts in Son Tra Peninsula, Ben Thanh-Non Nuoc and Luong Spring. Another three hotels with 182 rooms came into operation last year, bringing the total number of rooms of the local hotel system to 2,584.
It is the focal point of the central region's World heritages, including Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Hue Royal Palace, and Hoi An-My Son. With favourable natural conditions, especially gorgeous beaches, and a good transport network, Danang has become a desireable destination for travellers.
"The WHR seed that Vietnam planted has come to fruition"
Paul Stoll, General Director of Danang Five Star Resort
The WHR aims to boost the long-neglected tourism industry in the central region, to protect heritages and set up quality criteria for hotel and restaurant systems of travel companies. It has brought back positive results so far and this trademark has become popular not only in domestic but also foreign markets.
We have tried to make a direct linkage from Singapore Airport to Danang. Foreign investors feel more confidence on coming to the Central region. Tourist and hotel investors do need the WHR, which is assessed as the best trademark to promote the country's as well as the region's tourism.
We are seeking foreign partners to open a school on tourism and a rescue centre in Danang and others along the central beaches with the assistance of the Australia Royalty. We also have plan to improve transport systems of the provinces belonging to the WHR and to set up tourist information stations along the route which will provide a full range of services from accommodation, car wash, food, money changing, and car parks. I am glad and proud that the WHR has been recognised by the local officials for its efficiency.
However, the WHR has yet to gain the status of legal entity. We will operate in the form of a joint stock company if there isn't a timely decision. So far, all expenses for the operation of this project have come in advance from the Furama Resort Danang which will be fully paid back after it has full legal status.
The WHR has generated conditions for calling on investors and introducing the tourist potential of Central Vietnam, and effectively joining in the programme to reduce poverty and create jobs for local people.
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