Vietnam Vacations - Long An

Song Vam wrist
Long An is the gateway of the Mekong Delta, the northern borders of Tay Ninh and Cambodia, to the east city borders. Ho Chi Minh City, southern Tien Giang and borders the western border with Dong Thap. As an agricultural province, Long An soil fertility spread out over two trien river by two big rivers river Vam Vam shareholders and wrist. In the northern provinces have some wood, low hills, with the remaining flat. Part of the west under Central Dong Thap Muoi. Long An is a small province near Ho Chi Minh City and should be great for short Vietnam Travel tour packages.

Long An has a network of rivers, Ngoi, canals chang chit connecting each other, divided the province into several regions. Indeed Long An is not the Mekong Delta, which is just plain Vam Grass River, between river systems and the Dong Nai river system Cuu Long.

Climate: Long An has tropical monsoon, two rainy seasons and dry seasons remarkably, the average temperature of 27.4 º C year, the rainy season from 5 months to 10 months, average rainfall 1.620mm/nam.

Potential for tourism development

Don incise
Long An attractive tourist mainly due to the value of the humanities culture be-Eo, a culture has formed and developed on the rule in Cuu Long River from 1 to centuries 6 centuries after the rise receiving cultural essence of India. Nearly 20 relics of money and nearly 100 cultural relics are Eo was detected with 12,000 objects have been collected. Besides Long An has 40 historical revolution, the architecture and landscape as important as the cluster of Binh T? (Duc Hoa), tomb relics and temples Nguyen Huynh Duc (town Long An), relics Don Rach Cat, houses hundreds of columns ...

Ethnic, religious

Long An populous, mainly the Vietnamese (Kinh) and the original cells Khmer province in the west. Long An 4-religious people are by a Buddhist, Christ, Cao Dai and the good news.

Transportation

Long An have on National Highway 1A running through the town of Tan An. With Highway 62 to Binh Hiep border gate to Cambodia, the National Road 50 from My Tho (Tien Giang) through town to the city should be. Ho Chi Minh City. An how long Ho Chi Minh City 47km.

Golf investors to the rounds of Long An

Scores of investors are clubbing together to take a swing at winning golf projects in Long An province.

Nguyen Huu Tuan, deputy director of the Long An Department for Planning and Investment, said nine investors were looking at golf and tourism blueprints for the Mekong Delta province.

“We are happy to receive many projects in this field because these are highly benefitable,” Tuan said.

However, Tuan said it was unclear whether the province had sufficient room to accommodate all the projects.

While most of the projects would be located on the outskirts of the province, most of them each require 150 to 200 hectares.

Tuan also voiced some environmental concerns.

“Therefore, we need guidance from the Ministry of Planning and Investment about this,” Tuan said.

Four of the projects come from South Korea, Hyoil, DM Lee, Genuwin D&C and the Viet-Han Join Stock Company while the rest are backed by domestic investors.

Hyoil is the only firm which has been granted an investment licence.

The company will build a $58 million, 36-hole golf course and resort in Thu Thua district’s My Phu commune. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2010, with the entire 280ha complex slated for completion in 2015.

DM Lee company is also processing procedures to build a golf course, villas, hotel and restaurants on a 300ha site in Can Giuoc district, while Genuwin D&C has signed an agreement with the local People’s Committee to build a golf course complex on 337ha in Thu Thua district.

Meanwhile, Phu Quang New Residential Area Join Stock Company wants to build a residential area in Phuoc Lai district.

The province is the ninth most successful in attracting FDI projects with 132 projects worth $1,134 million having arrived up to last month.

Long An golf course buzz raises eyebrows

It is quite a surprise that many investors are flocking to the southern province of Long An to build golf courses.

So many, so fast

Between September 2004 and March 2007 Long An approved 13 golf course projects and was considering five others; the People’s Council was then informed that provincial authorities had okayed the projects.

These numbers seem odd because there are only 16 operational golf courses nationwide.

The approval of so many golf course projects was facing such strong public opposition that the provincial people’s committee cancelled seven of the 13.

On December 4, 2007, the Long An Provincial Party Committee finally concluded that only three would be approved; other investors will have to choose different projects in which to inject their money. The decision has investors dazed as some of the projects have already broken ground. Hundreds of billions of VND have been paid for site clearance.

When asked to explain why the Long An initially approved so many golf course projects, the committee cited the benefits, including economic development and job creation.

There are currently 16 operational golf courses nationwide; one golf course for every four provinces or cities. Most golfers are foreigners which is the likely reason that courses, even in big cities like HCM City, remain quiet.

An Tay Company Ltd was the first to come up with the idea of constructing a 300ha golf course in Long An. Thai Son Company Ltd followed with a 275ha golf course project.

Next, both Phu Quang and Viet Han Companies began procedures for 420ha and 560ha courses, respectively. In Long Hau commune alone, four golf course projects expected to cover an area of 1,555ha were accepted.

If the ‘golf course movement’ had not been put to a stop, Long An’s farmers would have lost 9,500ha of land, crippling the economy and further impoverishing the people.

Solutions?

It is not easy or wholly ethical to ask investors to cancel already promised projects; Long An’s authorities are at fault in this case.

Only three investors maintained the right to develop golf courses in Thu Thua, Can Giuoc and Duc Hoa districts.

Other investors, according to experts, may sue the Long An People’s Committee, demanding compensation for losses incurred, unless provincial authorities give them alternative investment advantages.

It is difficult to say why Long An decided to approve so many golf course projects. Some think investors were simply trying to get the rights to large pieces of land that they would then sell for profit. What is clear is that golf is fast becoming a popular market in Vietnam thanks to tremendously increasing domestic wealth and ever growing foreign interest in both business and leisure activities; meaning the golf trend is far from over.

A visit to Dam Long-Bang Ta forest eco-tourist area

One cannot help feeling surprised when visiting Dam Long-Bang Ta forest eco-tourist area for the first time. Dam Long provides an escape from the bustle and hustle of urban life as one breathes the fresh air and embraces the tranquility of the mountains, forests and landscapes.

A tram ride runs through the primeval forest from which one can see deer, muntjac and stags eating leaves. Alternatively, one can ride a bicycle around the forest to breathe the fresh air in the morning.

Dam Long eco-tourist area is located at the heart of Ba Vi tourist complex, 70 kilometers from Hanoi to the west. The area covers 70 hectares including 50 hectares of water surface and 20 hectares of forest.

Bang Ta is a primeval forest with four layers of trees. The highest layer mainly consists of trees on average from 30 to 35 meters tall. The next layer is chestnut trees and fuchsia, between 20 and 25 meters high. The third layer is mainly ricinus, oleander, mulberry, soapberry trees, and bead trees, and the lowest layer includes a variety of fern and mistletoe, creating a beautiful look. The fauna and flora here are abundant, with 240 species of trees and many species listed in the red book. The most profuse is a group of 76 valuable medicinal herbs.

Going through paths full of liana, tourists will discover the wildness and mystery of the forest, enjoy the singing of tens of species of birds, and observe herds of spotted deer roaming in the silent space.

Leaving from the forest, tourists will contemplate the beauty of Dam Long, an immense lake filled with lotus spreading their fragrance in summer, and birds, reptiles such as suamp hens, boucals, geckos, and lizards.

Fish caught on the lake can be broiled in floating houses which are decorated with multi-coloured lanterns. Breakfast and soft drinks are served in the houses.

Water sports in swimming pools or games on rope bridges or cau khi, characteristics of the southern region will excite young people.

The tourist area has 56 hotel rooms and four bungalows available for massage and karaoke, a meeting hall with 300 seats and a dining room serving 1,000 guests.

Hotels here are modern and well-equipped while maintaining the beauty of nature.

Stilted Muong ethnic minority houses are suitable as camping sites, to enjoy camp-fires, ruou can or wine drunk out of a jar through pipes, and traditional music.

Furthermore, tourists can take part in local markets to buy souvenirs, specialties of Ba Vi, and visit Ngoc Nhi stork garden, Suoi Hai or Hai Stream, and Ao Vua or Pond of Kings.

Tours may be booked via Vietnam Open Tour Ltd., Co., tel: (04) 3926 2328 or Hanoi ETOCO via (04) 3516 0534 or contact: Dam Long-Bang Ta forest, Cam Linh Commune, Ba Vi, Hanoi, tel: (04) 3362 1588.