Authorities in Dalat, a resort city in central highlands Lam Dong province on April 3 allowed the Ho Chi Minh City-based joint stock company Cadasa to start the preservation and upgrading of the oldest, most beautiful and biggest villa complex in the city to turn it into a five-star entertainment resort.
The 13 villa complex handed over to Cadasa- an information technology training and research company last year under long-term lease following a bidding round, is located adjacent to Palace II on Tran Hung Dao Street in the pine forests.
Cadasa will spend around VND100 billion (US$6.3 million) giving a facelift to the old homes built some 100 years ago.
General Director of the company Nguyen The Hung said the villas would be restored to their original forms, and much of the money would be used for improving the surrounding parks and green areas to make the villas a five-star accommodation venue.
The company will invite local and French experts to give advice on the buildings architecture to give peculiar traits to each villa.
As planned, around VND30 billion (US$1.9 million) will be poured into the maintenance of roofs, and gardens of the villas, and the construction of extra works during the first stage which will last until the end of 2007.
The villas, which were built by the French last century, together with a synchronized architecture system, which carries French special features will be an attractive and charming entertainment location for both domestic and foreign tourists when it is operational.
Dalat now has around 700 hotels. However, only 47 are of one- to five-star rating meeting the national standards, an official from the local hospitality sector said, adding that many luxurious hotels are under construction to meet the demand of local and foreign tourists.
Last year, the city expected to welcome 1.2-1.4 million visitors, including 200,000-250,000 foreigners. Tourism growth is targeted at 13-14 per cent from 2006-2010.
Young People
Vietnamese
