Construction of the new Ben Dinh Tourism Port in Quang Ngai Province’s Ly Son Island District kicked off on November 23.

The VND200 billion (US$9 million) project is expected to meet the increased number of visitors to the island district, and is planned to be completed in 2018.

The 87m-long dock and 153m-long wharf allows one 2,000 tonne vessel, one 1,000 tonne vessel and a 400-seat vessel to anchor at the same time. The port area is 3ha wide, accommodating a 1,000sq.m station.

“The construction of Ben Dinh Port, which aims to complete the local system of seaports and inland waterway ports, will contribute to fortifying national defence and preserving national security and sovereignty of sea areas in the East of the country,” said Director of the Quang Ngai Department of Transport, Ha Hoang Viet Phuong.

Also, the port is expected to become a hub for transportation of goods and to facilitate the travel of local people and visitors as well.

“We have managed to spare VND100 million from the groundbreaking ceremony to support families of victims of traffic accidents and poor but talented students on the island,” Phuong added.

Recently, Quang Ngai Province invited Japanese specialists to help make proper planning for Ly Son Island in the direction of an ecological marine urban area, securing national defence whilst responding to climate change.

Ly Son Island District was approved to be part of the 45,300ha expansion planning for the Dung Quat Industrial Zone by the Government and was regarded as one of the six islands that must be strong in economic development and stable in defence.

In 2015, the central Quang Ngai Province attracted 650,000 tourists, including 47,000 international visitors. Ly Son Island District alone received over 100,000 domestic and foreign visitors last year, and nearly 150,000 in the first ten months of this year. — VNS