Work on Vietnam’s first sand-based golf course in Phan Thiet will tee off next week.Rang Dong Construction Company Limited director Nguyen Van Dong told Vietnam Investment Review there are two factors making the Sea Links Phan Thiet golf course different: it is the first to be built on sand dunes and it lies along the beachfront some 60 metres above sea level.
 Golfers will play surrounded by Phan Thiet’s stunning seaside scenery |
“I am sure that this will be very special compared to many other entertainment areas,” Dong said.
The 18-hole golf course at the site will cost about $10 million and cover an area of more than 132 hectares along the Ham Tien-Mui Ne coast 10km north-east of Phan Thiet.
Dong said the course is the first project in a complex of 200 luxury villas, a five-star hotel and resort, swimming pools and other facilities.
Sea Links Golf Course, when finished, will be part of a tourist community similar to Poshahinu Tower, Hon Rom-Mui Ne and Ong Hoang Temple. Along with Ocean Dunes Golf Course, the project, which is scheduled to open in 18 months, promises to be a luxury destination, Dong said. Next to go up will be a five-star hotel costing about $50m.
Though he did not give projections for the finished cost of the site, Dong said it would be “huge”.
“Our aim right now is to choose the operator with enough experiences for the golf course,” he said.
Rang Dong Construction is a private company established 15 years ago. It is currently conducting 80 per cent of construction in Binh Thuan province and Dong was named Labor Hero by President Tran Duc Luong last year.
Binh Thuan province, home to several beaches and several famous cultural and historical sites including Co Thach Pagoda in Tuy Phong and Mui Ne in Phan Thiet town, has become one of the most favoured destinations for both domestic and overseas holiday makers.
Mui Ne is often called “The Land of Resorts” with many of Vietnam’s resorts located there. According to the Binh Thuan People’s Committee, the province currently has more than 100 hotels and guest houses with 255, four-star rooms total. The number of visitors to Binh Thuan has increased by 30 per cent annually, with foreign visitors increasing by 35 per cent per year.
In 2005, Binh Thuan welcomed 1.7 million visitors, including 150,000 foreigners, grossing VND450 billion ($28.5m). Authorities expect to welcome 2.1 million tourists and take in revenues of VND630bn ($39.8m) this year.
No. 757/April 17-23, 2006
Bich Ngoc (vir.com.vn)
