HCM City (VNA) - The northeasternborder province of Ha Giang boasts majestic scenery, geological features, adiverse eco-system, rare fauna and flora, and the unique cultures of 22 ethnicminorities, but has yet to realise its enormous tourism potential, tourismofficials said. 

The province has seen average annual growth of32 percent in the number of tourist arrivals in the past few years, said NguyenVan Son, Chairman of the provincial Ha Giang People’s Committee.

Last year arrivals numbered nearly 854,000,including 176,500 foreigners.

Revenue from tourism was estimated at 795billion VND (35 million USD), a year-on-year increase of 13 percent.

In the first six months of this year, there weremore than 470,000 tourists, with visitors from Ho Chi Minh City accounting for35 percent.

But, speaking at recent event to promote HaGiang as a tourist destination in HCM City, Son said: “The province’s tourismsector is at an early stage of development and faces obstacles like limitedhuman resources and infrastructure.”

“The province promises to offer favourableconditions for domestic and international investors to develop tourismprojects.”

Tran The Dung, deputy director of Young Generation– a tourism company in HCM City, said the province should offer other tourismproducts besides the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark to attract more tourists.

He suggested adventure travel in the Tu Sanalley area, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields, the Gam River and festivals of ethnicgroups.

The province’s tourism authorities shoulddevelop closer co-operation with travel agents and inform them early aboutactivities like festivals to enable them to make tour plans, he added. 

In October 2010 the geopark was recognised as amember of the Global Geopark Network, the first in Vietnam and second inSoutheast Asia to achieve the status.

It covers an area of 2,356sq.km and with anaverage altitude of 1,400-1,600 metres, enjoys a cool climate and a range ofdifferent terrains.

There are many grand, deep canyons. Ma Pi LengPass, recognised as the deepest canyon in Vietnam, is 700-800m deep and 1.7 kmlong.

Lung Cu flagpole, the northernmost point of Vietnam,is a must-see tourism destination for not only Vietnamese overseas who comeback for a visit but also for many locals across the country.

The Hoang Su Phi terraced fields, recognised asnational heritage, is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in thewhole country.

Khau Vai love market, where people can meet upwith their old flames for a chat takes place once a year on the evening of 26thand morning of 27th in the third lunar month in Meo Vac district’s Khau Vai commune.Due to excessive tourism and intruding photographers, locals said they havemoved further to find their own quiet space to meet up with their onceloved-ones.

With its inherent appeal, the market has becomea unique cultural identity of the ethnic minorities in the region.

The province hopes to welcome 1.5 milliontourists by 2020, including 600,000 foreign visitors.-VNA