Ninh Thuan taps potential for tourism and wind power

Home to some of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes, Ninh Thuan is a prime location for tourism

Dr Tran Du Lich, head of a consulting group for the central coastal region, said that with its long coastline, far-reaching sand dunes, mountainous seascape, and lively bat population, Ninh Thuan has been an ideal location for the development of eco-tourism projects.

Home to many stunning landscapes, such as Ninh Chu beach, one of the nine most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, the Ngoan Muc pass, Vinh Hy Bay, Nam Cuong red sand dunes, and the Cham tower complex, as well as a number of historical and cultural relics, Ninh Thuan has a considerable edge in promoting its investment opportunities.

“The Vinh Hy bay, one of the country’s four most beautiful bays with unspoiled natural scenery, is located in the “tourism triangle” of Vietnam, alongside the cities of Nha Trang and Dalat. With natural landscapes of desert cactii, blue sea, and legendary Cham architecture, the bay is a very attractive destination for tourists who enjoy adventure. As such, the province should make use of its advantages to develop international tourism complexes,” Lich suggested.

Le Thi Thanh Thuy, director of the Ninh Thuan Economic Development Office, said that “The province has licensed several tourism property projects. Many are under construction, and we expect to attract more in the coming months.”

According to Thuy, most recently, Syrena Vietnam, under BIM Group, surveyed the opportunities of investing in a 5-star Vinh Huy resort project in Vinh Hai commune in Ninh Hau district. Costing an estimated $60-80 million, the Vinh Huy resort project will cover around 66.8 hectares. It will be home to 60 pool villas, 40 guest pavilions, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities. The investor plans to put the project into operation in the next 36 months.

Thuy added that the greatest potential in Ninh Thuan was the development of wind energy projects. As a wind energy hub in Vietnam, the province has licensed many investors to develop wind-to-power plants here. For example, in mid-2014, Power Generation Corporation 2, under the country’s state-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), kicked off the Cong Hai 1 wind-to-power project in Suoi Gieng hamlet in Cong Hai commune. The project, costing over VND1.5 trillion ($69.76 million), is being constructed over two phases.

To date, Ninh Thuan has had plans for 12 wind-to-power projects, many of which have already been licensed. They include the Phuoc Nam renewable energy project, Enfinity, Mui Dinh and Cong Hai wind-to-power projects.

The prime minister has approved a master plan on wind energy development for the 2014-2018 period, with the total investment of EUR3.7 million ($4.2 million), using official development assistance (ODA) from the German government. This would create more opportunities for Ninh Thuan to tap into its vast potential.