TUY HOA - PHU YEN

Contents

A/ Highlights
      1/ Da Dia cliffs - A masterpiece of nature 
      2/ Long Thuy beach
      3/ Join local people to play football on the beach
      4/ Countryside inside the Tuy Hoa city 
      5/ You are the only one foreign tourist here!
      6/ What you can do with 11USD? 
      7/ VietNamNet: The top destinations in Phu Yen 
      8/ Xep beach (Tuoi Tre newspaper)
      9/ 200-year mango trees recognized as heritage trees of Vietnam
     

B/ Tuy Hoa beach city

C/ My journey

D/ Where to stay in Tuy Hoa and Long Thuy beach
     45SD++ for a night in 5-star hotel

E/ Best time to visit

F/ Getting there
G/ Taxi
H/ Website
I/ Canon G12 
J/ News

A/ Highlights 

       1/ Da Dia cliffs - A masterpiece of nature 

      Vietnam south central coast has many beautiful beaches. Most of tourists feel "full" after visiting Mui Ne beach resort and Nha Trang beach city. So, why We should come to Tuy Hoa beach city of Phu Yen province? Its because of Da Dia cliffs - a masterpiece of nature, about 40km from Tuy Hoa.

According to Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam (http://www.monre.gov.vn), Da Dia Cliffs are about 50m wide and more than 2,000m long. It is listed as a national tourist site.

Geologists said that the stone of the Da Dia Cliffs is basalt and that the cliffs were formed by volcanic eruption in the Van Hoa plateau about 200 million years ago. When the molten rock spewed out into the sea, it hardened and cracked both vertically and horizontally, creating the layers of rock that we see at Da Dia Cliffs today.

The Da Dia Cliffs from a distance look like a huge beehive. It is a huge pile of hexagonal and pentagonal shaped basaltic rocks. A part of the cliffs is under the sea water while most of it is above the sea surface. The sea crashes onto the cliffs all year round and the black and yellow rocks look very smooth and shiny. In the center of the cliffs is a depression filled with still water.

Beyond the cliffs is a 3-km long sickle-shaped sandbank on which there are yellow rocks lying on smooth, white sand in the shade of tropical almond trees. The seawater here is very clean making it an ideal beach for both domestic and foreign tourists.

One can stand on the hill above Da Dia Cliffs and contemplate the beauty of the sky and the sea, melt into the sun and rhythm of the sea and feel the unique beauty of these amazing cliffs.

                                                    Da Dia cliffs overview. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                   Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                 Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                    Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                   Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                  Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                     3-km long sickle-shaped sandbank. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                      3-km long sickle-shaped sandbank. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                     3-km long sickle-shaped sandbank. Pic: vietnamguidebook

2/ Long Thuy beach 

A beautiful long beach with white sand and crystal blue water.  During weekday, the beach just has some tourists. Just walk a little bit far away from the only two seaside restaurants, the beach is just your own kingdom!  

Want to escape to almost deserted island. Well, the Hon Chua island is really near from the beach. Motorised boat or "basket" boat can take you there

Long Thuy beach is just 9km from Tuy Hoa city

                                                     Long Thuy beach. Pic: vietnamguidebook

3/ Join local people to play football on the beach

Tuy Hoa beach is just 5-minute walk from Le Duan, the main street of the city. The beach is not excellent as the sand is bold yellow and the water clarity is just average. But, while its not affected by tourism, so there is no restaurant or concrete hotel along the beach. All you will see is nature with about 6-km long and dense casuarina equisetifolia forest along it.

Especially, in the late afternoon, some parts of the beach are crowded with local people. They come here for swimming, playing and fishing. I especially love watching all the young ones playing football and ball-throwing game. They play excitedly and it make you feel that you are coming back to childhood. You will forget all the troubles, sadness and hardness of life.

Attention: children need to wear life jackets for swimming in Tuy Hoa beach as some parts of the beach are suddenly drop deeply down. Looking for the part of the beach that has many local people swimming is the smart choice! 

                                      Quiet lovely beach in the morning. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                               Ball-throwing game. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                 Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                                  Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                                            Fishing. Pic: vietnamguidebook

4/ Countryside inside the Tuy Hoa city

There are many rice fields, vegetable gardens in and around the Tuy Hoa city. Along the main Hung Vuong boulevard is a large rice field where at night local people come to enjoy BBQ food (chicken, fried corn...) and hear the sound of crickets, frogs...

Just about 2km from the center of city is Ngoc Lang vegetable garden where you can see the true South central coast countryside of Vietnam. Watchting farmers doing cultivation and so green many kinds of vegetable make you want to become a Vietnam farmer

                                            Ngoc Lang vegetable garden. Pic: vietnamguidebook

                                 Rice fields along Hung Vuong boulevard. Pic: vietnamguidebook

5/ You are the only one foreign tourist here!

Everybody, both foreign and local ones, are heading to Mui Ne resort, Nha Trang beach city and Hoi An ancient town. Tuy Hoa, the capital beach city of Phu Yen province, 120km from the North of Nha Trang, is almost totally forgotten!

Weekend and holiday just see some Vietnamese tourists. During weekday, Tuy Hoa city is so quiet. In two days, 28th and 29th May of 2012, I just met one Chinese traveller here.

I walked on the streets and boulevards. There were very few motorbikes. There were no people trying to approach me to sell something. And when I came to talk to local people, they were very friendly and helpful. Even a young family invited me, a stranger,  to sit down on the beach and have a drink with them. (Well, I did have fish salad eating with fish sauce and Saigon beer)

So, come to Tuy Hoa to see a South central coast city which is not affected by tourism wave yet. And to be a happy stranger here!

6/ What you can do with 11USD?

Well I can stay in a 3-star hotel in the center of Tuy Hoa city. The room is nice, coming with swimming pool and buffet breakfast. You want more? Ah, a package of massage, suana and steambath offered by this hotel  is just  4USD (While in Mui Ne resort you have to pay at least 20USD to have these services)

The food and beverage are cheap as local people income is really low. With 1USD you can have pork noodle soup, ice dream, and fresh fried corn! 


 7/ VietNamNet: The top destinations in Phu Yen

VietNamNet Bridge – Admiring sunrise on the Dai Lanh cape, swimming in the vast beach or catching snails at Ghenh Da Dia are amazing experience in the land of Phu Yen.

Dawn at Dai Lanh cape

Welcoming a new day on the Dai Lanh cape makes you surprised by the serene beauty with the first sunlight rays of the new day. Walking on the trail to the lighthouse, you can see the vast blue sea, ships running slowly, rock mountains in odd shapes and hear the sound of ocean waves.

Unspoiled Bai Mon Beach

 

Going through the green pine forest, Bai Mon beach appears with a pristine beauty. More interestingly, there is a fresh-water stream to the west of the beach, which is hidden behind leaf canopies of the Bac Deo Ca virgin forest. The stream runs across the beach and flows into the sea.

Coming to Bai Mon, visitors can not only swim but also purchase fresh seafood from fishing boats.

Spectacular Phun Abyss

 

Phun Abyss is surrounded by the Black Rock Mountains, amid the vast forests, forming a dreamlike landscape. The waters of the Ca stream flows down into the abyss, creating a white waterfall. Here, visitors will enjoy romantic and charming scenery of forests, mountains and a waterfall.

Romantic Vung Ro

Vung Ro is surrounded by Ca Pass, Da Bia Mountain and Hon Ba Islet. It used to serve as an important port on the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea. Vung Ro has 12 small beaches, with unique characteristics.

Visitors can also rent boats of fishermen to explore the sea or conquer the Da Bia Mountain which always sinks in white frost. You will be far from urban noise to mingle with quiet sky and sea, with simple fishermen to relieve stress and chaos of life.

O Loan Lagoon

 

The lagoon, which is situated at the foot of Quan Cau Pass near National Highway 1A in Tuy An District, is the shape of a swan when viewed from a plane passing overhead. The 1,200ha wide lagoon with an average depth of 1.2m to 1.4m is surrounded by rolling hills, and linked to the Cai River. A small creek also links the lagoon and the sea.

Golden sand dunes and casuarina forests also line the banks of the lagoon, providing shelter for pelicans, storks and ducks.

One of the most enjoyable things to do at O Loan is to jump into a boat to cruise the lagoon. Local boatmen will take you out across the calm waters, and you may even be surprised to see fish jumping out of the water.

O Loan lagoon is also famous for culinary specialties such as red oysters, cuttle-fish, jelly fish and a type of red algae that is used in food.

Ghenh Da Dia

Ghenh Da Dia in Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province is categorized as one of the natural wonders of Central Vietnam, as the rocky plate reef 50 meters wide and over 200 meters long is constituted by thousands of basalt columns. The reef was recognized as a national heritage site in 1998.

Ghenh Da Dia is a must-visit destination for tourists, as in addition to looking like a giant beehive arising from the turquoise waters; the area is also beautified by clean beaches and various fishing boats bobbing on the sea.

Ghenh Da Dia can be reached by driving or riding more than 30 kilometers from Tuy Hoa Town along National Highway 1 to Tuy An District. From there, you travel another ten more kilometers past paddy fields before you arrive at the reef.

Pha Le

  8/ Xep beach (Tuoi Tre newspaper)

9/ 200-year mango trees recognized as heritage trees of Vietnam 
VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty ancient mango trees of over 220 years old in the central province of Phu Yen have been named the heritage trees of Vietnam.

These trees are located on the campus of a Buddhist temple named Tu Quang or Da Trang in Can Luong village, An Dan commune, Tuy An district.

A ceremony was held on the morning of February 9 at the temple to celebrate the title.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Dieu, vice president of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of and Environment (VACNE) presented the certificate of the Vietnam Heritage Tree to the temple managers.

On this occasion, the temple welcomed thousands of pilgrims.

According to official documents, the mango trees were planted by a Buddhist monk named Phap Chuyen in 1793. The mangos were very delicious so they were offered to the kings.

Today, the mango trees of over 220 years old still yield fruits annually.

B/ Tuy Hoa beach city 

Tuy Hoa, the capital city of Phu Yen province, is in the South central coast of Vietnam.

Its 560km from the North of Saigon, 120km from the North of Nha Trang beach city, 360km from the South of Hoi An ancient town, 1160km from the South of Hanoi  

The city is small with just 107km2 and about 144,000 people

Most of the governmental institutions/offices are located on Le Duan boulevard. From here a few minutes walk will take you to the Tuy Hoa beach. 
Le Duan just has some basic hotels and really quiet at night. 7:00pm see very few local people on the street

Hung Vuong is the main boulevard with many guesthouses, hotel and eatery. 

From Hung Vuong to Le Duan, it is just about 15-minute walk. You just go straight to the East. 

Here are the maps from Wiki

                                                                       Phu Yen province

                             Tuy Hoa city and other districts of Phu Yen. All in red letters

For a clear and detailed map of Phu Yen and Tuy Hoa city, please see the links below
Tuy Hoa city
http://phuyentourism.gov.vn/uploads/banner/1299212103.jpg

Phu Yen province
http://phuyentourism.gov.vn/uploads/banner/1299212021.jpg 


C/ My journeyThe motorbike driver picked me up at Hong Hai hotel on Le Duan street at 6:30AM, 29th May 2012. We decided to leave Tuy Hoa city for Da Dia cliffs which are about 40km far away. 

The bike followed the seaside road which was parallel with dense casuarina equisetifolia forest. Its was really cool and quiet as there were very few motorbikes on this road.

Then We came to national highway number 1, passing many green rice and melon fields . 

Arrived in Chi Thanh town which was about 30km from Tuy Hoa city and had breakfast with pork noodle soup. From here we took about 4 more km to Mang Lang church. The church was built in 1892 and was one of the oldest churches in Vietnam. According to many Vietnam websites, the church keeps the first Vietnam national language book. I really loved it as it looked ancient from the outside and was really quiet.

Beside the church was an orphanage

6 more km We arrive in Da Dia cilffs. This national tourist site had no restaurant and hotel. There were just only two family selling some drinks on the low hill from here I had a general view of Da Dia cliffs. It was great! The sea water was so blue and clear with many fishing boats and basket boats. Far far was the 3-km long white sand beach shining in a beautiful sunny day!

I was the only one tourist walking down to the cliffs. The cliffs were not impressive as it was small but it gave many beautiful photos. I think most of photographers like it. It took me more than 45 minutes to walk and take photo around the cliffs.

Then I came to the beach. The sun was so strong and the sand was hot but looked at the water which was so blue and clear made me forget all. There, on the beach, were many basket boats and some children with bare feet and heads collecting seaweed. They said one kg seaweed was sold at 6,000VND.

Beside the beach were many fishing men houses. The local people were really poor. The national tourist site hasnt brought tourism income to the community. They earned living by fishing only.

I came back to the low hill and had a water melon with the driver. It was almost 11AM and we decided to go to Long Thuy beach which was 31km from the South of Da Dia cliffs (and 9 km from the North of Tuy Hoa city)

We passed a long wooden bridge and arrived in Long Thuy beach about 11:45AM. There was one basic restaurant at seaside where We had lunch with BBQ fish and fried squid noodle. From here the beach looked so beautiful with white sand shining under the strong sun and the water was so clear. There was just only three people fishing. And one again I was the only one tourist standing on the long long beach. Not far away was the Hon Chua island with many fishing boats. I wished to come there but time had came to go back to Tuy Hoa city.

The first stop in the city was Buu Lam pagoda where there was a huge seating Buddha. The outside was so hot and I felt so nice to relax on the leafy hill of this pagoda.

Then We drove along leafy road to Thap Nhan tower on Nhan moutain. The tower was built by Champa kingdom. What a pity was that the door of the tower was closed. I just took its outside picture. Well, but its great to have a general view of Tuy Hoa city from here with famous Da Rang river emptying into East sea and Da Rang bridge

The last stop was Ngoc Lang vegetable garden which was so green and gave nice photos. Some farmers were spraying and some were collecting vegetables selling to the market.

Follow the dense casuarina equisetifolia boulevard

Came to National highway number 1

Selling melon along national highway number 1

And the cow

Farmers on rice fields

Had breakfast in Chi Thanh town which is about 30km from Tuy Hoa

Then moved to a small road running along a beautiful river

                                            Drying rice papers. Pics: vietnamguidebook

                                                            A damn and a fisher man

Mang Lang church

 

 

Da Dai cliffs

 

Da Dia cliffs - A national tourist site

                                      On the top of Da Dai cliffs. From here had a general view

 

Looked down to Da Dai cliffs

 

 

And the deserted beautiful beach beside Da Dia cliffs

Oyster for raising lobster in cages.

Children collected seaweed on the beach. 6,000VND/kg

A fishing village beaside the beach. Fisher men also had small land for cultivation

There has been no restaurant in Da Dia cliffs. Just a local family sold some drinks and water melon. Hammock was offered free

We left Da Dia cliffs. Crossed 241-m wooden An Hai bridge

Arrived in Long Thuy beach

                                           Hon Chua island was really near Long Thuy beach

                                                                      My lunch

Came back to Tuy Hoa city. Visited Bao Lam pagoda with huge white Buddha and Laughing Buddha on a leafy hill

Then We came to Thap Nhan tower where I had a nice overview of  Tuy Hoa city

 

The last stop was Ngoc Lang vegetable garden

D/ Where to stay in Tuy Hoa and Long Thuy beach

With 140,000VND (OR 7USD) you see youself in a large room with wood decoration, A/C, hot water, TV, fridge. The hotel is on the main Le Duan boulevard. Breakfast is excluded

With 220,000VND, you may enjoy 3-star service of a hotel located on the main Hung Vuong street. The hotel comes with swimming pool and nice room. Massage is available with just 4USD

Well, the above room rates are for Vietnamese. As you are a foreigner, some hotels maybe charge you more. 

As the city rarely see foreign tourists, its easy to understand most hotel staffs dont speak English. Well, this is my mobile phone in Vietnam: 0084 908 403 374. I do translate free for you

The city has two 4-star hotel (Yaka hotel and Sai Gon Phu Yen hotel) and one 5-star hotel (Cendeluxe hotel)  

Long Thuy beach has some basic guesthouses

Now comes to list of hotels and guesthouses in Tuy hoa city

1/ Hong Hai hotel (My stay)
    Address: 351 Le Duan boulevard, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel/Fax: 057 3842 757 - 0979 800 121

     
    Room rate:140,000VND/room (without breakfast)

  Overview: Good location with just 5-minute walk to the beach; huge room with big bathroom come with A/C, Tivi, fridge, hot shower; friendly; wifi


    Minus: no lift; staff speak a little English

    Pictures: 

2/ Hung Vuong hotel (My 1st pick)

    Address: 239 - 241 Hung Vuong street, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel: 057 625 3545 - 057 382 2023

    Fax: 057 625 3547

    Email: reser@hungvuonghotel.com - sales@hungvuonghotel.com

    Website: www.hungvuonghotel.com

    Room rate: 220,000VND/single room (with breakfast)


    Overview: Tuy Hoa 3-star hotel; nice clean room, bathtub; large restaurant; massage; swimming pool

    Bonus: Internet access; lift


    Pictures: 

3/ Thanh Long hotel (2nd pick)

    Address: 314A - 314B Hung Vuong street, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel: 057 3826 999 
    Fax: 057 3826 701 

  

   Room rate:170,000VND without breakfast


   Overview: Big hotel; huge room with big bathroom; artful decoration with wood; clean; friendly; A/C; Tivi

    Bonus: lift; wifi; parking; good rate for long term guest

    Pictures: 

4/ Anh Tuan hotel

    Address: 324 - 326 Hung Vuong street, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel: 057 3841 999

    Fax: 057 3822 822

     
    Room rate: 140,000VND without breakfast

    Overview: Nice clean room; friendly; A/C; Tivi

    Bonus: lift

    Pictures: 

5/ Gia Bao guesthouse

    Address: 280 Hung Vuong street, Tưy Hoa city

    Tel: 057 3841 095

     
    Room rate:140,000VND without breakfast

    Overview: Big and clean room; A/C; Tivi; fridge; friendly

    Minus: Old in-room equipments
    Pictures: 

6/ Lam Tra 2 hotel

    Address: Block 14 C2, Hung Vuong street, Tuy Hoa city
    Tel: 057 3811 666 - 0905 822 737

    Fax: 057 3821 179

   

    Room rate: 160,000VND

    Overview: Big nice room; A/C; Tivi; fridge; friendly

    Bonus: Parking

    Pictures: 

7/ Kaya hotel (My pick)
    Address: 238 Hung Vuong boulevard, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel: 057 381 9999

    Fax: 057 381 0123

    Email: info@kayahotel.com.vn

    Website: kayahotel.com.vn

    Room rate:700,000VND up with breakfast and wlecome drink

    Overview: Tuy Hoa 4-star hotel; nice and big room; very friendly

    Bonus: JCB, Visa, Master, Diners Clud, American Express are accepted

    Pictures: 

8/ Cendeluxe hotel 

    Address: 02 Hai Duong street, Tuy Hoa city

    Tel: (057) 3818 818

    Email:  info@cendeluxehotel.com

    Website: http://www.cendeluxehotel.com

    Room rate: 45++ USD up (30th August 2013 - 30th September 2013; room only)

    Overview: Tuy Hoa 5-star hotel with 218 guest rooms and suites. I havent been in this hotel yet. But according to one of my friends, its a very nice hotel, especially the room rate is very attractive (low) in comparison with other 5-star hotels in Vietnam!

Now comes to some guesthouses in Long Thuy beach

1/ Trung Hao guesthouse (My pick)

    Address: Long Thuy - An Phu - Tuy An

    Tel: 0573 793 216 - 0167 373 3994

     
    Room rate:120,000VND without breakfast

    Overview: Big and clean room; A/C; Tivi; fridge; friendly

    Pictures: 

2/ Violet hotel

    Address: Long Thuy - An Phu - Tuy An

    Tel: 0573 793 477 - 0573 793 109 - 0935 848998

     
    Room rate:140,000VND without breakfast

    Overview: Basic room; A/C; Tivi; fridge; friendly

    Pictures: 

E/ Getting there 

By bus

Tuy Hoa beach city is 120km from the North of  Nha Trang and  560km from the North of Sai Gon

Thuan Thao famous bus operator offer daily night sleeping/seating bus from Sai Gon to Tuy Hoa. It also offer many daily buses from Nha Trang to Tuy Hoa. Bus with A/C and clean, friendly staffs in yellow uniform.

From Sai Gon to Nha Trang: please see Nha Trang destination

* Thuan Thao sleeping bus Sai Gon - Tuy Hoa

   Depart: 6:30PM and 7:30PM

   Arrive: About 6:00AM the following morning 

   Price: 280,000VND/ticket

   Tel: 08 3511 2957

   Booking and getting on bus: Mien Dong bus station

                 Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district, Sai Gon city

* Thuan Thao seating bus Sai Gon - Tuy Hoa 

   Depart: 7:00PM

   Arrive: About 6:00AM the following morning 

   Price: 240,000VND/ticket

   Tel: 08 3511 2957

   Booking and getting on bus: Mien Dong bus station

                 Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district, Sai Gon city

* Thuan Thao seating bus Nha Trang - Tuy Hoa 

   Depart: 5:30AM - 8:30AM - 10:30AM - 13:15PM - 17:30PM

   Arrive: 3-hour driving

   Price: 70,000VND/ticket

   Tel: 0583 560 818

   Booking and getting on bus: Nha Trang South bus station (Ben xe phia Nam Nha Trang)

By air

Vietnam Airlines offers many flights from Sai Gon to Tuy Hoa. Check it website for detail. One way ticket is 1,400,000VND, exclude tax

www.vietnamairlines.com

F/ Best time to visit

December to March is the best time to visit as the weather is cool and the sky is blue. 

From May to August, there are some small short rains in early morning or evening. September and October see big rains, so avoid to come to this time.

My journey was on the end of May and the weather was really hot but no rain. I did have two beautiful sunny days.

G/ Taxi

Thuan Thao taxi belongs to Thuan Thao bus operator

Tel: 057 3810 810

H/ Webiste

Offical Phu Yen tourism page in English: http://phuyentourism.gov.vn

I/ Canon G12

Well, I have used Canon G12 for taking photos for this website. Becauce of  "Lens error" announced by the machine in Nha Trang beach city, I had to borrow a small digital camera for taking all photos in Tuy Hoa - Phu Yen. So the pics looked worse than they were outside. 

50USD was the price to replace the lens! Ah ha

J/ News


Rockefeller family: 2.5 billion USD for huge resort in Vung Ro, Phu Yen province
 The Saigon Times - Rose Rock Group, established by the Rockefellers, and Vung Ro Petroleum have clinched a deal to develop a resort community worth US$2.5 billion in Vung Ro Bay in Phu Yen Province, the group said on Tuesday.

 An artist’s impression of The Marina, The Village and Bai Mon beach

 Kirill Korolev (L), CEO and General Director at Vung Ro Petroleum Company, and Collin Eckles, President at Rose Rock Group, shake hands after signing a cooperation agreement on Vung Ro Bay development - Photos: Courtesy of the investors

The big-ticket project when realized will create a huge resort complex comprising three key components: The Marina, The Village and Bai Mon beach, which will all be connected by a 2.5-kilometer pedestrian path called The Green Thread. The joint-venture agreement was signed last Friday, the group said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Vung Ro Bay is ideally located in Phu Yen Province in the south-central coast, with direct links to Tuy Hoa and its airport, making it a convenient location for both business and leisure visitors, as well as permanent residents, the investors said.

 High aims

With its natural deep water and sheltered bay, The Marina is the gateway to Vung Ro. This will be a key destination comprising 350 marina berths, a waterfront hotel and retail space for shops, bars and restaurants, according to the investors’ master plan for the project.

The Village, meanwhile, will be centrally located in the development and will provide a majority of residential accommodations. In addition, there will be a 650 meter retail street to support the community.

Bai Mon, with its extensive and deep flat sandy beach, will have a lively beach resort with a variety of watersports available and a more exclusive boutique hotel along its 400-meter sandy beach.

“The enclave will comprise several hotels with over 760 rooms, 4,300 apartments, 100 luxury townhouses, a variety of retail shops and 350 marina berths. The gross commercial area will total approximately 200,000 square meters, providing space for schools, healthcare facilities, retailing and entertainment complexes,” according to the investors.

High hopes

Kirill Korolev, CEO and General Director of Vung Ro Petroleum, pinned high hopes on the cooperation with Rose Rock Group, which is an investment management and realty development firm founded by members of the Rockefeller family.

“We are extremely excited to be embarking on this mega-project and very pleased to be working with Rose Rock Group, a strong and reliable partner who will help us ensure the success of this development. Our plan is to create a vibrant community for Vung Ro around the area’s natural beauty and provide a world-class destination for discerning residents and visitors.”

He also noted that Vietnam is rapidly evolving as a unique destination for investment, residence and tourism, which is a good case for the project.

Meanwhile, Collin Eckles, President of Rose Rock Group, was also confident in the project’s success.

“We look forward to making this development an outstanding and preferred destination in the Asia Pacific region for visitors and a lifestyle choice for residents. We look forward to bringing unique and differentiating occupiers to the project from our global network to provide compelling value enhancing content to Vietnam,” he said in the statement.

According to the investors, the entire Vung Ro Bay development will emphasize sustainable development and focus on creating an extraordinary thriving ecology of education, healthy living, lifestyle and culture.

The cooperation project has not been officially announced in Phu Yen Province, said Pham Van Bay, deputy director of Phu Yen Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. However, the plan seems to have obtained support from provincial tourism authorities.

Bay told the Daily on Tuesday that “when in place, such large-scale infrastructure facilities and services will create strong momentum for Phu Yen’s tourism to attract visitors.”

Tourism in Phu Yen is still underdeveloped, with total revenue of only VND540 billion, or roughly US$26 million, in 2013, according to data from the tourism department. Last year, the province welcomed 600,000 visitors, including international guests, and the province targets 750,000 this year.

There are currently only two five-star hotels in the province, while most other accommodation facilities there are low-standard ones of two-star level.

Vung Ro Petroleum Company Limited is an independent petroleum company based in Vietnam with plans to offer the highest global standards of petroleum and petrochemical products. The company is investing more than US$4 billion to develop an oil refinery, petrochemical plant, and seaport in Phu Yen, with construction scheduled to begin in this year’s second quarter.

Rose Rock Group is a boutique alternatives investment management and real estate development firm founded by members of the Rockefeller family, specializes in advising, consulting to and partnering with developers of properties of scale and permanence.