The only visitors to the area were children from Dong Hoi Town across the Nhat Le River. Because in those days, there was no bridge connecting the town to the commune, the children would have to take a boat in order to access the beaches.

Now, in My Canh hamlet, where there were once only empty sand dunes, stands the sparkling new full-service Sun Spa Resort. It is replete with all of the luxuries tourists would expect, including breathtaking views of the ocean, fresh lobster served at the restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pools, and more.

It is the centrepiece of the province’s effort to take advantage of its beaches and the nearby World Natural Heritage Site Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to elevate itself as one of Viet Nam’s prized tourist destinations.

"I chose the My Canh hamlet to build the resort because it is well-situated in such a way that everyone can see Dong Hoi City on the other side of the Nhat Le River," said resort director, Vo Minh Hoai of the Truong Thinh Construction Company.

About 40km away from Phong Nha-Ke Bang, the Sun Spa Resort features shady palm trees separating the beach from the resort’s bungalows and hotel rooms. The buildings are architecturally based on a combination of Eastern and French styles.

Plan for success

The province is making an all-out effort to help the project succeed. To improve transportation, they opened the Nhat Le Bridge linking the resort with Dong Hoi City.

Crystal clear waters: The resort’s swimming pool is an inviting place to take a refreshing dip. Photos Hoai Nam

The local government also underwrote a VND55 billion loan to the Truong Thinh Construction Company to build the VND230 billion, 30ha resort comprising a trade centre, a tree-lined boulevard, hotel buildings, villas, bungalows, meeting halls, and an ecological resort.

The authorities hope that if this project succeeds, private investors will be willing to start up others.

"The forming of the Sun Spa Resort has created a breakthrough to develop tourism in the province," said Nguyen Cong Cuoc, chairman of Quang Binh Province People’s Committee.

At present, the first phase of the project has finished with 236 beach-style guest rooms, and a well-equipped meeting room capable of accommodating 400 people.

The resort features an enthusiastic hotel staff who are mostly graduates from the nearby tourism training college in Hue. In addition, the graduates also received one year of training at the well-known Furama Resort in Da Nang.

"Just by providing comfortable facilities, good services and good location, I believe Sun Spa Resort will become a successful resort in northern central Viet Nam," said Paul Stoll, general manager of Furama Resort.

Aside from the resort, Quang Binh has other advantages which could help its tourism industry.

Dong Hoi is part of the World Heritage Road which is 1,800km long stretch of highway running through 17 coastal provinces in central Viet Nam and the central Viet Nam highlands.

The World Heritage Road, a tourism initiative approved by the Viet Nam National Steering Committee of Tourism, aims to improve transport in central Viet Nam and promote the region.

The leaders are considering a plan to connect regular comfortable bus and train services with all main route stations in central Viet Nam.

Quang Binh Province is also looking to use what was once its misfortune of being a heavily fought-over border region in the American War as a lure for tourists. The province retains and maintains many historic monuments and battlefields, which it hopes will attract visitors.

And now, with the development of the new resort, after taking in all of these sights, visitors have somewhere comfortable to rest their heads.

Source: VNS