Tourism year sets sights on south central region

The 2011 national tourism year will focus on promoting tourism in the south central coast region, it was announced at a press conference held in Ha Noi yesterday, Jan 25.
This year's events will for the first time be hosted by not one, but eight central and southern coastal provinces and cities including Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Phu Yen.
Phu Yen, celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, will host a range of events including the Da Bia mountain climbing competition (March); a Viet Nam-South Korea cultural exchange and the Viet Nam Sea and Islands tourism month (April); ASEAN folk music festival (June) and the 17th Viet Nam Film Festival (November).
Many other activities have been lined to take place throughout the year in co-hosting provinces and cities including the International Firework Exhibition in Da Nang, the fifth Nha Trang sea festival.
"The tourism year will be professionally organised. It is expected to help take full advantage of the coastal provinces and cities as well as promoting the heritage of the Cham people and provide a new image for Vietnamese tourism," said Huynh Vinh Ai, deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Phu Yen will host the opening ceremony on April 1st.