Ba Ria-Vung Tau among top choices for living in Vietnam

According to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Tourism, as of the end of July, the province had welcomed over 10 million visitors, achieving 64.6 per cent of the annual target, and a nearly 20 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The total number of overnight stays reached 3.26 million, meeting 68 per cent of the annual target, with an 18.6 per cent increase on-year. Total revenue from tourism surpassed $429 million, reaching 65 per cent of the annual target, and a 21 per cent increase from the previous year.

The department reported enhancements to service quality, noting that security, fire prevention, and overall order at tourism establishments are being effectively managed. There have been no reports of aggressive sales tactics or abnormal price hikes.

Residents of Ba Ria-Vung Tau made efforts to promote a more eco-friendly, clean, and attractive environment

In recent years, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has made significant efforts to enhance its tourism environment, launching campaigns to encourage polite behaviour and provide excellent support for tourists. For instance, in March, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Tourism inaugurated a food safety and hygiene training course, marking the first soft skills training for the tourism industry in 2024.

Over one day, 400 trainees from more than 100 hotel and resort businesses across the province learned about new food safety regulations, violation penalties, food preparation principles, food poisoning prevention and response measures, seasonal food recommendations, and healthy dietary practices for tourists.

"Food is an essential part of travel, so these training courses on food safety and hygiene are crucial for promoting local cuisine and creating a safe, friendly, and attractive tourism environment," Nguyen Thi Le, director of Tourism Development Management at Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Tourism, told VIR.

Since early 2017, Vung Tau authorities have implemented initiatives to foster respectful behaviour towards tourists, rigorously combat commercial fraud, and enforce codes of conduct for tourism activities, including penalties for incivility.

According to The Outbox’s Most Loved Ranking for Q2/2023, Ba Ria-Vung Tau emerged as the most favoured domestic destination among Vietnamese tourists, surpassing popular names like Danang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. This reflects the appeal of the region’s harmonious natural environment, advanced infrastructure, and especially its friendly and hospitable people.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau has emerged as the top domestic destination of choice for Vietnamese tourists

Additionally, the cultural life of Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s residents is diverse and rich, highlighted by a range of large and small festivals. The Department of Culture and Sports of Ba Ria-Vung Tau reported that the province hosts 12 traditional festivals deeply rooted in maritime culture, such as the Phi Yen Festival, the Tran Hung Dao Festival, the Nghinh Ong Festival, and the Dinh Co Festival.

Tran Van Loi, deputy director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Culture and Sports, shared with VIR that these folk festivals reflect the unique cultural practices of the community.

"Leveraging the cultural values of coastal villages, including these festivals, to develop new tourism products is advantageous and helps promote distinctive local cultural values in the province’s development strategy," Loi asserted.

Vung Tau has successfully hosted numerous cultural, tourism, and sports events, with the highlight being the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Tourism Week in November 2023. Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Tourism also noted that immediately after Tourism Week, the average occupancy rate of coastal accommodation establishments rose to over 70 per cent, with some hotels in Bai Sau and Ho Tram reaching over 90 per cent.

Tourism property blooms along long sandy beach of Ho Tram, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

The province has intensified its investment in infrastructure development, housing, urban renewal, and new urban development to boost economic and social progress, attract investors, and enhance the material and spiritual lives of its people.

Urban and rural planning in the province has been continually improved, focusing on developing industrial areas, economic hubs, and regional transportation connectivity. Efforts include expanding development space, advancing urban renovation projects, and implementing comprehensive and decisive measures for localities.

At a conference on the 2021-2030 planning period and investment promotion in March, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Party Secretary Pham Viet Thanh highlighted that the province’s role and position are increasingly evident in the national development process and have established it as a crucial growth centre.

“With its regional GDP scale, central budget contributions, and provincial competitiveness index (PCI) consistently ranked in the top five nationwide, the province’s economic structure is shifting towards industrialisation, modernisation, and urbanisation,” Thanh said.

To date, the province has attracted over $33 billion in foreign investment and $16 trillion in domestic investment. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, foreign direct investment exceeded $1.5 billion and domestic investment over $1 trillion, with projects from 30 countries and territories, including major Vietnamese financial groups.

The 2021-2030 plan for Ba Ria-Vung Tau, approved by Decision No.1629/QD-TTg in December 2023, is considered a foundation for shaping economic and social development policies, harnessing potential, and boosting investment.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasised that the plan will open up development spaces and create new breakthroughs, positioning Ba Ria-Vung Tau as a national economic centre with a comprehensive port logistics system, international maritime services, world-class tourism, and a leading clean energy and green industry hub with high value-added components.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau joins in on green tourism trend Various measures are being taken by authorities and businesses in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau to keep up with the green tourism trend to attract more travellers.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau province ranks first in foreign investment capital The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau took first place for attracting the most foreign investment capital in the first four months of the year.