VietNamNet Bridge – With numerous heritage sites, Vietnam’s central region holds huge potential for tourism development. Taking advantage of this, the ‘Central Heritages Excursion’ tour was established, offering tourists many interesting travel experiences, while contributing to boosting socio-economic development in the region.

Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province is one of the top destinations for international tourists. (Photo credit: Cao Anh Tuan)

A journey through various sites

The ‘Central Heritages Excursion’ was first launched in 2004 as a co-initiative of Da Nang City and Vietnamtourism Joint-stock Company (Vitours) to promote and develop tourism to this culturally and geographically rich area of Vietnam.

In its 11th year of operations, the tour has been established as a top pick for travel agents and is a favourite amongst foreign visitors. The Republic of Korea, Japan and China have the largest number of visitors booking this tour.

In its first days of operations, the route only brought visitors through three localities: Da Nang City, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces. Now it has increased in both quality and the number of destinations, encompassing three more localities: Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thanh Hoa provinces.

With this expansion, holiday makers are brought to an assortment of UNESCO World Heritages Sites including Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son sanctuary in Quang Nam Province, the Complex of Hue Monuments in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park in Quang Binh Province, and Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa Province.

In addition to cultural and natural heritage sites, the tour recently added more new tourist attractions in high demand from domestic visitors, namely Truong Son Cemetery, Dong Loc T-junction, General Vo Nguyen Giap’s tomb, Ba Na hill, Thien Duong (Heaven) and Son Doong Cave, Chay river and Dark Cave.

Hoi An Ancient Town and Son Doong Cave are the top destinations for international tourists.

Taking part in the journey, visitors are offered the chance to discover the historical, cultural and architectural values of the lands they cross.

In addition to diversifying its venues, the tour has also tried to upgrade its services for customers by inviting them to stay at luxury hotels and seaside resorts, such as Ho Tram Beach Resort and the Intercontinental Da Nang.

Travel agents have also designed an appropriate programme targeting specific visitors coming from specific markets in order to meet their particular preferences.

Bringing chances to the region

Thanks to the ‘Central Heritages Excursion’, tourism and services of six localities in the central region have further developed, leading to significant progresses in the socio-economic situation and budget collection.

Thua Thien-Hue Province welcomed over 2.9 million visitors in 2014, an increase of 11.8% over the same period last year. The locality earned a total revenue of more than VND 2.7 trillion (US$ 120.5 million), up 14.41% in comparison with the previous year.

Meanwhile, around 3.8 million visitors visited Da Nang last year, an increase of 21.9% over 2013, generating total revenue of around VND 9.7 trillion (US$ 433 million) to the hospitality sector, up 25.1%.

More than 70 projects received investment in the city in tourism planning and development with total capital of over VND 171 trillion (US$ 7.6 billion).

In the reviewed year, Quang Binh received approximately 7.7 million holiday makers, an increase of 129% over the last year, with 43,200 foreigners. Total revenue from tourism reached nearly VND 2.75 trillion (US$ 122.7 million), up 129% as compared to 2013.

The growth in tourism and services has also boosted the development in other sectors, such as restaurants, entertainment, shopping, communications, transport, and air transport in particular.

Moreover, visitors’ increasing demand for traditional handicraft products has also contributed to bringing a revival to traditional craft villages and improving the livings of residents there.

“The idea of connecting heritages for the ‘Central Heritages Excursions’ is fantastic. And the longer it is in place, the better it becomes,” said Director General of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Nguyen Van Tuan.

He also shared his delight to see the positive shift in tourism development in the region, and localities participating in the tour. In particular, Da Nang and Quang Nam, have been better promoting and managing their heritage sites, bringing more motivation for development.

Destinations listed in the tour have also received positive comments from international organisations, websites, and newspapers, he noted, praising that the acknowledgments stem from the joint effort of local authorities and travel agents in advertising the tour’s itinerary.

Nhan Dan/VGP