Basic HTML Version
I
t has been more than a decade since
an initiative was started to promote
central Vietnamunder the title “World
Heritage Road”, but the project has
since petered out. But Huynh Tan Vinh,
general director of the Furama Resort
Danang, has not lost his enthusiasm
for the theme. “It’s now a good time to
get the World Heritage Road back in the
spotlight,” he said.
Twelve years ago tourism officials
from the three central provinces of
Thua Thien Hue, Danang and Quang
Nam, travel industry professionals, and
the Vietnam National Administration of
Tourism joined forces to form the World
Heritage Road, to develop and promote
local tourism.
The World Heritage Road stretches
from Vinh to Dalat via Hue, Danang, Hoi
An and Nha Trang. It stretches some
1,500km along National Highway No
1, skirting the coast of central Viet-
nam. The moniker is derived from the
fact that the route encompasses no less
than three UNESCO-designated World
Heritage Sites: the 16th century silk
trading port of Hoi An, My Son Valley,
with the sacred remains of the ancient
Cham civilisation, and the former impe-
rial capital of Hue.
More world heritage sites have
been recognised since the route was
first inaugurated, including Phong Nha-
Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh
province and Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa
timeout
34
WORTHY
ROAD
Vietnam’s central coast
is a place like no other.
Here you can explore
some of the most attrac-
tive UNESCO World Her-
itage Sites, bask on stun-
ning beaches, stay in
luxury hotels and play on
world-class golf courses.
Despite all this, how-
ever, marketing the area
to international tourism
markets has proven a
major challenge.
Ngoc
Son
reports
SPECIAL
FEATURE