The event will be attended by representatives of management agencies, investors and experts on tourism. Could you summarize the tourism potential of the province and the meaning of the conference?

Geographically, the province is located between the northern midland and mountainous region and the Red River Delta, in the Hanoi capital region and on the Lang Son - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor, adjacent to the northern key economic region, which has a large population, gathers science and technology potential, and is a centre of external economy, economic, scientific and technological exchanges, and investment attraction of the country.

Bac Giang boasts beautiful natural landscapes, such as Tay Yen Tu landscape area with Khe Ro primitive forest and Nuoc Vang, Dong Bai, Dong Ri, Khe Din and Da Ngang springs. Situated at an altitude of nearly 1,000m above the sea level, Dong Cao Plateau is cool all year round, with unique ancient rock formations, Vua cave inside the mountain and pristine scenery. Suoi Mo eco-tourism area with more than 1,000 hectares of forest land and rich vegetation, waterfalls turning out white foams all year round, and relic sites associated with the legend of Princess Que My Nuong during the Hung Kings period.

 Khuon Than lake has a water surface of 145 ha, surrounded by more than 800 hectares of forest, while Cam Son lake covers an area of 2,600 hectares, including many islands surrounded by high mountains, protective forests, charming landscapes and peaceful space. The Nham Bien range of 99 mountains is associated with the legend of "the land of flying Phuong Hoang (Phoenix)". Suoi Nua and Khe Chao lakes, Ba Tia and Nga waterfalls, Da Ong dam, and Cau, Thuong and Luc Nam rivers ... are beautiful landscapes which can be tapped to develop various types of tourism.

The temple and pagoda system is rich and diverse with more than 2,200 historical and cultural relic sites across the province, including three special national, 101 national and 583 provincial-level ones. Of which, a collection of woodblocks at Vinh Nghiem pagoda with 3,050 copies have been honored by UNESCO as the World Documentary Heritage for the Asia-Pacific region; while the set of woodblocks kept at Bo Da pagoda was recognized as a national treasure.

Besides, Bac Giang is also known for intangible cultural heritages such as Quan ho (love duet) singing named by UNESCO in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and ca tru (ceremonial singing) named by UNESCO in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, as well as many unique cultural features of ethnic minority groups.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Linh attends ceremony of casting bronze bells at Ha and Thuong pagodas (Tay Yen Tu) in January 2018.

The province’s transportation system is relatively convenient. Roads include Hanoi - Lang Son expressway, National Road 31, National Road 37 and National Road 279, along with the network of provincial roads and rural roads which is being invested synchronously.

Looking back the half-term implementation of Resolution No. 44-NQ / TU issued on March 30, 2016 by the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board on tourism development in Bac Giang province for the period 2016-2020, could you evaluate some outstanding results in the implementation of the goals set in the Resolution?

To achieve the set targets, over the past two years, the province has made efforts to remove its "white" area of tourism on the national tourism map and achieved some outstanding results.

Firstly, the awareness of the all-level Party committees and authorities, sectors and agencies of the role of tourism development has significantly improved. The province and all of its departments, districts and city have mapped out resolutions, plans and directives in a clear and specific manner, set goals and tasks in line with the policies and reality to develop tourism.

Secondly, the province has identified its potential and strengths to focus on building three major tourism products: culture-spirituality, history-culture and eco-resort.

Tourists admire the ancient moss wall at the entrance of Bo Da pagoda (Viet Yen district).

Thirdly, with the long history and culture, Vinh Nghiem pagoda and the Zen Buddhism path of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, in the past time, Bac Giang province has conducted archaeological research and focused on restoring the systems of relic sites of the Tran Dynasty in association with the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect in the western part of Yen Tu mountain range. In particular, it has concentrated on developing Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist site.

Fourthly, essential infrastructure for tourism development has been upgraded, focusing on developing transport infrastructure connecting the tourist sites.

Fifthly, in recent several years, Bac Giang has started to promote its image and tap potential for tourism development. The number of visitors to Bac Giang is increasing, with an estimated 1.5 million this year, almost triple the 2016 figure.

Could you please tell the province’s directions and breakthrough solutions from now to 2020 and the following years to attract investment in tourism development?

In order to promote tourism development investment, Bac Giang will carry out following tasks and solutions:

Firstly, the province will focus on administrative reform; raising the provincial competitiveness index; studying the planning and building of preferential mechanisms and policies, attracting investment, accessing land, investing in upgrading infrastructure, especially transport, electricity and water facilities, in order to create favorable conditions for businesses investing in Bac Giang.

Secondly, the province will lure potential investors to restore relic sites and form chains of tourism products, while stepping up preservation and promotion of the values of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, especially the ranked ones, and cultural heritages recognised nationally and internationally. It will pay attention to protecting the forest, the environment and landscapes.

Thirdly, Bac Giang will intensify tourism promotion and regional linkage, develop tours and take measures to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the locality, striving for an annual growth of 30 percent in the number of tourist arrivals, with increasing stay and spending.

Fourthly, the province will pay attention to the training and development of tourism human resources to meet the needs of enterprises who wish to invest in tourism development.

Khuon Than lake (Luc Ngan district). Photo: Viet Hung.

Could you tell readers of Bac Giang Newspaper major projects on tourism development approved in Bac Giang province from now to 2020?

At present, there are many investors exploring and looking for investment opportunities in the tourism and services sector in Bac Giang. The figure is surely increasing from now until 2020, but at first, the province will grant investment plan decisions and memoranda of understanding to a number of enterprises right at the tourism investment promotion conference. They are:

- FLC Group with three tourism-related projects with a total investment capital of 500 million USD: Khuon Than - Bac Giang resort, ecological urban area, sports and entertainment complex; Ho Cao lake-Bac Giang resort, ecological urban area, sports and entertainment complex; and Bac Giang commercial services and hi-end residential complex.

- Asia-Pacific Investment Joint Stock Company with two projects worth 499 million USD in total, including the ecological urban area and park complex in the Southern Urban Area of Bac Giang city and Apec Aqua Park apartment complex at Lots OCT5 and OCT8, Nguyen Van Cu street, Bac Giang city.

- TUTA Joint Stock Company with a 130 million USD project to develop a high-class entertainment and mixed-use urban complex in the Southern Urban Area of Bac Giang city.

- Golf Truong An Investment Joint Stock Company with a 52 million USD project to build Viet Yen golf course in Huong Mai and Trung Son communes of Viet Yen district...

So what is the message Bac Giang province wants to send to investors through this conference?

First of all, Bac Giang province would like to thank investors for choosing Bac Giang to invest in. The province is committed to creating the most favorable conditions for investors, not only in the first phase of their projects but also during the whole process of their investment in the locality. The local authorities will always accompany investors to remove difficulties and obstacles facing them during the implementation of projects and operation in Bac Giang.

Thank you very much.

Kim Hieu