The government has decided to take the year 2007 as Thai Nguyen Tourism Year with the theme “Returning to the Viet Bac Military Zone – The Capital of Gio ngan”. The event is aimed to make the best use of cultural and historical tourism products to develop the provincial tourism industry.

The tourism year will include many programmes and festivals related to historical milestones and revolutionary sites. This is viewed as a good opportunity for Thai Nguyen to promote its image of tourism and educate young generations on revolutionary traditions.

The event is also hoped to encourage other sectors to develop together with tourism, boosting co-operation with neighbouring provinces and prompting local tours, destinations, eco-tourism sites and cultural – historical sites to tourists throughout the country and abroad.

As planned, the Thai Nguyen Tourism Year 2007 will start at an announcement ceremony on 26 and 27 February in two venues: Phu Dinh Safe Military Zone in Dinh Hoa district and at a stadium in Thai Nguyen city.

On February in Dinh Hoa and Thai Nguyen City, a great variety of activities will be organised, featuring long tong festival, folk art performances, song and dance programmes.

The opening ceremony will take place on February 27 with an art programme rich in national identity and modernity.

On the same day’s morning, an incense offering ceremony will be held at Uncle Ho Memorial House in Phu Dinh commune, Dinh Hoa district and a tour to landscapes of Dinh Hoa Safe Military Zone will open for delegates and tourists to the events.

In the whole year of 2007, many other cultural and tourism activities will be held, for example, Thai Nguyen Tourism Song Festival and Culture and Art Programme for ethnic minority groups of Viet Bac in August.

On the 45th birthday of Thai Nguyen city, a tourism and trade fair will take place with a view to introducing economic potential of Thai Nguyen. A seminar on tourism economy development is also to be organised.

Towards the tourism year 2007, Thai Nguyen is expected to attract about 750,000 tourists, including 25,000 foreigners, and earn about VND 350 billion from tourism.

From now to early 2007, some construction sites must be completed on time for the event, including roads to Coc Mountain Lake, infrastructure for Phu Dinh Safe Military Zone, infrastructure at tourism craft villages in Van Yen commune, Dai Tu district and in On Luong, Phu Luong district.

Hotels, restaurants, and accommodations for tourists will have to be upgraded. Other construction sites that must be completed include roads to Phuong Hoang cave, roads to Khuon Manh historical sites, Cau River’s flower garden and roads to Than Sa – Vo Nhai archaeological site. Streets in Thai Nguyen city, Song Cong town and district’s towns will also be decorated.

With proper preparations, Thai Nguyen will be able to hold a tourism year in a good and professional manner, meeting the needs of people across the country and tourists.

(Source: Nhan Dan)