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Stretching 192km along the coast, the southern province of Binh
Thuan boasts great potential for tourism development, especially sea tourism -
the most popular in Vietnam.
“Paradise” of health resorts
On October 24, 1995, a total solar eclipse occurred in Phan Thiet city of
Binh Thuan province, attracting hundreds of thousands of domestic and
international scientists and visitors. Since that day, the name Binh Thuan has
become well established on the tourism map of Vietnam and the world, and October
24 has become the Province’s Tourism Day.
Regarding Binh Thuan’s tourism sector, it is impossible not to mention Mui Ne –
Phan Thiet which is considered a paradise for health resorts. The image of Mui
Ne with white sand dunes stretching out in the bright tropical sunshine, waves
crashing into the calm fishing village, rows of coconut trees and stone steps,
has long been familiar to visitors.
Mui Ne is also endowed with sand dunes, a magnificent landscape which has become
an endless source of inspiration for photographers due to constant wind-driven
changes in its appearance. It is also the capital of resorts in Vietnam, with
over 100 eco-convalescence centres, resorts and villas, with natural, beautiful
sites, modern architecture, a fresh sea environment, sunshine, wind and sand.
Binh Thuan province has Phan Thiet Bay which, rather shallow and very windy, is
ideal for sea sports such as surfing, sailing and kite surfing. From October to
April, when the wind gusts are at their highest, Binh Thuan is besieged by
international friends who come to windsurf and kite surf.
Apart from sea related amusement activities, visitors can participate in other
unique sports on land, such as conquering the sand dunes, paragliding in the
brilliant sunshine, or golfing at Phan Thiet or Sea Link golf courses.
With these advantages, every year Mui Ne attracts over two million visitors,
including over 220,000 foreign visitors, coming from Russia, Germany, Sweden,
the Netherlands, France, Britain, South Korea, China, Japan, the US, Canada and
Mexico.
Land of festivals
In addition to its sea tourism potential, Binh Thuan also has cultural and
festival tourism strength because of its many cultural and architectural works,
as well as unique festivals of the Viet, Cham and Hoa ethnic groups.
Binh Thuan is home to Po Klong Moh Nai Temple, a typical cultural work of the
Cham people, where over 100 precious objects of Cham royalty are preserved, such
as the crowns, robes, boots, shoes, rings and bracelets of the kings and queens.
It also has Po Sah Inu Towers, dating from the 8th Century, devoted to the Shiva
Genie and a sacred set of stone linga and yoni of the Cham people.
Binh Thuan also boasts many unique cultural works, such as the oldest lighthouse
in Southeast Asia (built in 1899) at Ke Ga Cape, Vietnam’s biggest Buddha statue
on Ta Cu Mountain, the biggest whale skeleton in Van Thuy Tu Communal House, the
most colourful Co Thach stone ground in Tuy Phong District and the relic site of
Duc Thanh School, built in 1907 in Phan Thiet City, where President Ho Chi Minh
taught before he went abroad to seek ways to save the country. In particular,
the project of Binh Thuan Water Tower, a unique architectural work designed by
Lao Prince and architect Souphanouvong, was completed in 1934 and is considered
a symbol of Phan Thiet City.
Apart from a system of tangible heritages, the community of ethnic groups living
in Binh Thuan also has a rich system of festivals and rituals, such as Cau Ngu
(fish worshipping) Festival of the Kinh ethnic group; Kate Festival of the
Brahmin Cham ethnic group; Nghinh Ong Quan Thanh Festival of the Hoa community
in Phan Thiet City; and Dinh Thay Thim Festival which bears the specific
cultural features of Binh Thuan Province - it is one of few festivals in
Southern Vietnam listed in the dictionary of Vietnamese Festivals.
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