Binh Dinh (VNA) 😼– Although delayed, the tourism sector in the south-central province of Binh Dinh has made a comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic, a local official has said.

Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Tran Van Thanh said in June, the locality welcomed 472,000 tourists, of whom 9,450 were foreign and 463,050 were domestic. In the first half of this year, the total number reached 2.27 million, and 24,268 were foreign visitors, he noted. Binh Dinh is now home to 391 lodging facilities and 14 firms offering international tourism services licensed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and 32 others licensed by the provincial Tourism Department. All of these sites seek one thing; how to attract more holidaymakers. Apart from scuba diving to admire coral reefs and entertainment activities on the beach, vacationers can join kayak tours and community-based tourism services, the official said. Thanh forecast that Binh Dinh will attract at least 1 million tourists in the next quarter thanks to tourism activities and events. The most notable event at this time is the Miss World Vietnam 2022 slated for August in Quy Nhon city, expected to lure more than 10,000 visitors. Binh Dinh is one of the five provinces in the central key economic region, along with Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. Quy Nhon city, along with Da Nang and Nha Trang, is one of the three tourism hubs in Vietnam's south-central coastal region. The city is blessed with a 42km long coastline, and an abundance seafood and diverse topography comprising mountains, forests, salt marshes, plains, lagoons, lakes, rivers, peninsulas and islands. The best time to visit Quy Nhon is from January to August, when the weather is relatively warm most of the time. As summer comes, starting in April the weather will get gradually warmer. September to December is the rainy season. There will be more rain and potential storms, which can prevent vacationers from going on boat tours or exploring the town fully. Eo Gio and Ky Co are the most famous attractions in Quy Nhon. Situated on Nhon Ly Island, 25 km away and a 20-minute boat ride from Quy Nhon, Ky Co is fondly dubbed the "Maldives of Vietnam." On one side of Ky Co is the calm turquoise sea, and the other is magnificent rocky mountains. Here, visitors can dive in to explore the coral, have a dip in the cool water, relax on the soft golden sand of the beach, or discover other beautiful beaches in Ky Co hidden between the mountains cliffs. Eo Gio is situated between two tall rocky cliffs that drop straight into the clear waters of the sea below, giving it a beautiful crescent shape. Hon Kho (Dry Island) is part of Nhon Hai commune, 15km from Quy Nhon. From the port in Nhon Hai. Visitors need to take a 10-15 minute boat ride to reach the island. Like other places in Quy Nhon, Hon Kho is blessed with a beautiful soft white sandy beach and clear blue waters. Popular activities here are snorkeling to see the corals, swimming in the ocean, taking a relaxing walk on the boardwalk and capturing scenic photos or selfies. Exploring the rocky mountain and visiting the sandbar leading to the island are also great ways to get exercise and see the sights. Additionally, since the main occupation here is fishing, visitors can try fresh and reasonably priced seafood. Other must-visit destinations in Binh Dinh include Cu Lao Xanh (Green Islet), Ham Ho tourist area, Vui Vi Rong (Dragon Fin Cape), Cham Towers, FLC Zoo Safari Park, Hai Minh fishing village, Phuong Mai sand dunes, Thi Nai Lagoon, Ba Mountain, Hon Nuoc Lighthouse, and some pristine islands. On average, Binh Dinh welcomes around 200,000 international visitors every year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, the province received only 77,000 visitors. Binh Dinh is making every effort to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector by 2025./.