Travellers Notes

(24-10-2008)

Plan on movie studio complex targets tourists

QUANG NGAI — A detailed plan for the Vina Universal Tourism and Movie Studio Complex was presented by Tan Tao Group on Wednesday.

The US$50 million complex, to be built in the central province of Quang Nam, will be the biggest movie studio in Viet Nam.

It will cover an area of nearly 2,600ha and include a tourist area along with the Vina Universal Studio. The complex will offer visitors diversified tourist services, including cultural tourism, marine tourism and eco-tourism.

Tan Tao Group expects the complex will be a national-standard studio.

Cultural fest highlights attractions in Binh Thuan

The three-day Binh Thuan Culture-Tourism Days 2008 event concludes today in Phan Thiet after presenting many animated, unique activities. The event included volleyball competitions, surfing races on the smooth sand dunes of Ham Tien with well known local and international athletes. The festival has also helped promote the most attractive features of the resort capital with culinary contests, art and fashion shows and water sports.

Thanh Hoa cave proposed as world heritage site

Thanh Hoa Province and the Viet Nam Archeology Institute have proposed that the Con Moong Cave in Thach Thanh District’s Thanh Yen Commune be recognised as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Discovered in 1975, the Con Moong Cave is located in the buffer zone of the Cuc Phuong National Park. Archeological studies have showed the cave has cultural relics of the people from the Son Vi, Hoa Binh and Bac Son civilisations dating back between 7,000 and 13,000 years.

Nation’s first safari park opens in Binh Duong

A first-of-its-kind safari park was inaugurated last week by Dai Nam Joint-stock Corp, the owner of a huge tourism complex in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The 12.5ha open zoo is part of the 450ha Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Entertainment Complex in Thu Dau Mot Town, 40km northwest of HCM City. The park is home to rhinos, white lions, tigers, elephants, bears, ostriches, chamois, zebras, gnus, squirrel-monkeys, and foxes, many of which are not typically found in Viet Nam.

The VND50 billion (US$30 million) park offers more space than regular zoos to animals while humans get to observe them at a closer level. Tran Dang Trung, manager of the park, said deep spaces and various safety methods had been applied to protect visitors.

The zoo is open every day until 9pm, and admission is VND20,000 for adults and VND15,000 for children. — VNS