Vietnamese coastal attractions should develop in separate and distinct ways, to diversify the overall view of travel and put the developing nation on the global tourism map.
The enormous potential for tourism of Vietnam’s over 3,200 kilometers of coastline has remained mostly untapped with the coastal provinces’ major earnings coming from seafood, transportation, and crude oil and gas.
Yet it has been said that many sites along the coastline, such as Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet, and Ha Long, are not less, or even more, attractive than those well known in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand’s Pattaya, Phuket, Ko-samui, or Indonesia’s Bali.
Increasingly aware of that, many Vietnamese coastal provinces have considered developing tourist sector their top priority, expecting it to be the motive force to boost the whole economy.
The need to diversify coastal tourism has grown with Vietnam’s recent admission to the World Trade Organization.
As the local market is now open to foreign travel agents, Vietnam expects to welcome more foreign tourists, including those on boards cruise vessels, to visits its coastal attractions.
Besides conventional tourism, there have been increasing demands for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions/conferences, exhibitions/events) trips, as well as trips to learn about Vietnam’s history and culture.
In the rush to cash in on their coastal attractiveness, however, many provinces have based their tourist development on unsustainable strategies which failed to promote their characteristics and to protect local environment and culture.
The strategies often overlap, undermining their effectiveness and long-term vision.
For example, Vung Tau could focus on organizing beach events, such as sports, cultural or entertainment activities. Con Dao and Phu Quoc Islands are most suitable sites for luxury beach resorts. Meanwhile, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet could develop meeting/convention and shopping facilities.
Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hoi An and other provinces lining the northern central coast, studded with UNESCO-recognized heritage sites, could be the best place to organize trips to learn about the Vietnamese history and culture.
In the north, besides the world-acclaimed Ha Long Bay, tourists could also be lured to other attractions, such as Sam Son, Cua Lo, and Do Son.
Coastal tourism with due focus on MICE and history/culture-learning trips should be parlayed into an advantage for Vietnam, especially if the country can achieve its plan of a 3,200km tourist road that would run the length of the coastline, and boost investment for advertising and promotional activities.
Diversifying tourism would help elevate awareness of Vietnam’s bountiful coastal attractions to draw travelers worldwide.
