Awaking Phu Quy tourism potential

In addition, there are many famous landscapes such as Linh Quang pagoda and Van An Thanh temple built over 2,000 years ago…

However, this potential has not been exploited in the last years because traveling has still met difficulties. Since 2010, Phu Hung transportation co-operative has used Phu Hung medium-speed ship, but the vessel only meet a part of travel demand between the mainland and Phu Quy island. In early 2011, Hoang Phuc Trade and Tourist Service Co., Ltd purchased Hoang Phuc 01 high-speed ship with the worth of VND 21 billion to serve people’s demand as well as economic exchanges. This can be considered as a new bridge to contribute to making Phu Quy closer to the mainland and creating good conditions to boost Phu Quy economic development.

Phu Quy being closer to the mainland

Hoang Phuc 01 high-speed ship is a two-hull ship with the modern design and its capacity of 3,600 horsepower. The ship coming to Phu Quy within 2 hours with a 56-nautical mile distance (from Phan Thiet to Phu Quy) can operate with its maxium speed of 30 nautical miles per hour in the wind condition of level 6 -7. Its passenger hold was modernly designed as high-speed ships running on a line of Rach Gia – Phu Quoc island or Phu Quoc island – Ha Tien, with TV, air-conditioners and self-contained toilets. The ship including the main foor (the first floor) with 210 seats and the small living room (the second floor) with 56 seats can carry 266 passengers. The deck is 8.80 m wide and 30 m long. Its top floor is very large to serve for visitors’ view enjoyment.

Mr Le Hoang Phuc – director of Hoang Phuc Trade and Tourist Service Co., Ltd said that “To serve passengers well and make visitors the most comfortable, Hoang Phuc 01 only carries passengers and their luggages (the ship does not carry cargo as some current ships). Mr Phuc added that “Athough the high-speed ship has large investment capital, the fare is only VND 250,000 per ticket (This fare is like that of other ships having smaller capacity and a longer travel time).

When preparing to sit on the high-speed ship for his return, Thuong – a student at Binh Thuan Community College said that “I usually get seasick. Previously, I returned to my home town as a “long march”. I was very determined to dare go home. Now, there is the high-speed ship, I will be home more”.

At present, some inside furnitures and equipments of Hoang Phuc 01 are being repaired and upgraded at Phan Thiet port. According to the plan, the ship will depart the first trip on March 1st, 2011.

Tourism development

On February 17, 2011, Binh Thuan Transportation Department agreed Phu Hung medium-speed ship and Hoang Phuc high-speed ship daily running with their opposite schedules. When Hoang Phuc 01 leaves Phan Thiet port to Phu Quy, Phu Hung is from Phu Quy to Phan Thiet. From now on, the schedule to Phu Quy has 365 days of a year, which will promote economic exchanges and attract tourists to Phu Quy island district. Mr Ta Minh Nhat – vice chairman of People’s Committee of Phu Quy island district said that “People are very happy to hear the information”

Hoang Phuc high-speed ship invested and put into use, Phu Quy island will have great changes in the future.

Besides the investment of the Central Government and the provincial authority, Phu Quy will get more investment attention from enterprises inside and outside the province. In the near future, when coming to Binh Thuan, besides Hon Rom – Mui Ne resort, tourists will know Phu Quy island as a destination for interesting nature discovery.