Basic HTML Version
W
ell-known as the biggest is-
land in Vietnam, Phu Quoc
covers 600sqkm, making
it similar in size to Singa-
pore. About 115km from Kien Giang
province’s capital, Rach Gia, the island
is well connected with the mainland by
sea and air.
There are daily high-speed boats
linking Phu Quoc with Rach Gia and
Ha Tien cities, as well as five domestic
flights between the island and Hanoi,
Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Rach Gia.
Furthermore, the new interna-
tional airport in Phu Quoc will link
the island with Phnom Penh, Kuala
Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Phuket
and Bangkok.
With its strategic position, the Phu
Quoc authority has called for invest-
ment in such fields as tourism, com-
merce and trading and infrastructure.
The Duong Dong New Urban Area is lo-
cated ideally next to Duong Dong town.
With a total area of 67.5ha, the pro-
ject does not seem a likely candidate for
investment; however, KTC state-owned
company in Kien Giang province has
overcome all obstacles and difficulties
and invested more than VND740bn to
set up the new urban area.
With flexible infrastructure policies,
Duong Dong New Urban Area has a full
master plan, including landscaping, the
environment and architecture, as well
as buildings that are suitable for the
general development of ecotourism on
Phu Quoc.
One of the most interesting aspects
of the project is the area for green
parks, transportation and public build-
ings, which accounts for 56 per cent
of the total area. The new urban area
consists of a transportation system,
schools, markets, parks, street houses,
garden houses and villas that can serve
around 5,000 residents.
Since 2007, the company has
spent nearly VND100 billion attaining
95 per cent of the land in the first year,
says Nguyen Hung Linh, general direc-
tor of KTC.
However, according to Linh, the
project was delayed for two years to
wait for the approval of the master plan
by the government. Around 40 per cent
of the infrastructure has now been com-
pleted. The first phase of the project has
sold 200 out of 334 land plots, at an
average price of VND6 million per sqm.
The second phase is under construction
and will be finished by the end of 2013.
“Putting the project into operation
early will help encourage other inves-
tors to hasten their projects in town,”
said Van Ha Phong, chairman of Phu
Quoc district People’s Committee.
It is estimated that by 2030, the ur-
ban town of Duong Dong will be home
to around 240,000 people and cover
some 2,502ha.
Situated in the centre of Phu Quoc Island, Duong
Dong new urban is fast taking shape
A town is born
TOURISM IN THE MEKONG DELTA
44
timeout