Chan May port (Photo: sdl.thuathienhue.gov.vn)

Thua Thien-Hue – The number of international cruise ships bringing thousands of tourists to Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue began to pick up again after a long period being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a survey by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), cruise tourism is a high-revenue form of tourism, with its revenue over 40% higher than other forms such as air or road travel. The UNWTO forecast that in 2023, cruise tourism will experience a strong recovery, and Thua Thien – Hue has many advantages to tap this type of tourism.

Thua Thien-Hue’s Chan May port has the capacity to accommodate ships with a tonnage of up to 70,000 DWT and tourist ships up to 225,000 GRT. This deep-water port has been selected by the Asia Cruise Association as one of the 46 stopovers in Southeast Asia for cruise ships and large tourist vessels.

Deputy General Director of Chan May Port JSC Nguyen Van Chuong said the port enjoys a special natural advantage with a 7 km-wide bay, a vast water surface area of up to 20 sq.km, and mostly natural depths ranging from 9-14m, with minimal sedimentation. The port previously welcomed large cruise ships with considerable length and tonnage, capable of carrying over 6,200 passengers and crewmembers. A number of domestic and foreign partners have expressed interest in joint efforts to develop the Chan May port into a destination for big luxury liners in the central region.

Tourists land in Thua Thien-Hue via waterway (Photo: VNA)

Since 2018, the port has welcomed numerous luxury cruisers, including Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises, Small Cruise, Princess Cruises, Ovation of the Seas, and Mary Queen 2, affirming its brand value on the global and regional tourism maps.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh revealed that the Aeon Mall Hue commercial centre project has a total capital of over 169 million USD, the largest-scale one in the central region. Operational in 2025, the project will contribute to diversifying shopping centres and services for both residents and tourists. Additionally, the province is preparing to attract investment in a large-scale shopping mall near Phu Bai International Airport./.

Nguyen Huy Tuan’s house is one of a few ancient houses in Truong Son village in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, that retains the typical architecture of wooden houses found in the Red River Delta.

In the hundred-year-old house, many generations of Tuan’s family have lived together and preserved the cultural traditions of the land and the people of Vietnam’s ancient capital.

Truong Yen commune is home to 55 traditional houses with the typical architecture of three-room and five-room wooden houses. Most are made of elaborately and intricately carved ironwood. The traditional houses in Truong Yen are not simply a living space for a family, but also a place that fully reflect the values of sculpture, organised living spaces, and the art of dealing with nature. However, over time, these houses have deteriorated and are in need of preservation to promote their value and serve sustainable tourism development.

Figures from the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism show that in the core area of the Trang An heritage area are over 100 houses with typical traditional architecture built before 1945, mainly in Truong Yen and Ninh Xuan communes.

In mid-2023, Ninh Binh province issued a resolution to support the renovation and repair of houses with traditional architectural styles that are 50 years old or more in the core heritage area, and to support the construction of new houses in the area.

The province will introduce policies and mobilise resources to preserve and promote rural historical, architectural, and cultural values, thus supporting the renovation of and tourism development in the heritage area./.