Behold: Electric vehicles take tourists to the entrance of Thiên Đường Cave of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park.—VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hà
The three- day programme is part of efforts to make tourism a spearhead sector in Quảng Bình. It will provide a platform for travel operators in Hà Nội and Quảng Bình to network and attract more investment from the capital city into the province’s tourism sector, said Nguyễn Hữu Hoài, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.
Addressing press conference held on Thursday, he said: “This event will be a good opportunity for the province to popularise its traditions, history, and culture as a sacred land with talented and heroic people. It will also broadcast more images of Quảng Bình as well as Việt Nam abroad,” he said.
The programme’s launching ceremony will be held at the Lý Thái Tổ Park, beginning at 8pm, and broadcast live on VTV6. At the event, the public will have the opportunity to talk with Howard Limbert, leader of the British Cave Association expedition team and representative of the production team of the film Kong: Skull Island, which was partly shot in Quảng Bình.
Concerts titled Quảng Bình in Songs will take place at the Hà Nội Opera House from 8pm on March 26 and 27.
Other March 25-27 events include a tourism promotion and connectivity seminar, a photo exhibition, Quảng Bình – Most Attractive Destination in Asia, a performance of traditional folk songs, and a marketing programme, Quảng Bình – Kingdom of world caves.
A highlight of the programme will be a public photography contest. Everyone is invited to take photos of the event and write their comments, which will then be shared on Facebook. The one that gets the most interesting comments will get a voucher to take part in the trip to explore Sơn Đòong – the world’s largest cave, in 2018.
The central province of Quảng Bình boasts the most special tourism resources in the country and the Southeast Asian region, most notably the Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park, twice recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage thanks to its geological, geo-morphological, biodiversity and aesthetic values. It is also the first heritage site in the region to meet three of four criteria set for the status.
The locality is also endowed with the longest coastline with a number of pristine, crystal-clear, sandy beaches, and a variety of culinary specialties.
It is the native place of the late General Võ Nguyên Giáp (1911-2013) and labour heroine Mother Suốt (1908-1968), who carried soldiers, war invalids and ammunition across the Nhật Lệ river during the American war from 1964 to 1967. Quảng Bình also holds special tangible and intangible cultural heritages like ceremonial songs and traditional folk songs.
Quảng Bình is ranked 8th in list of 52 worth-visiting destinations in the world. It expects to welcome three million tourists in 2017. It welcomed more than 11 million tourists between 2011 and 2015.