$670mn religious tourism project under way in northern Vietnam
$670mn religious tourism project under way in northern Vietnam
The groundbreaking ceremony for a massive religious construction was held on Wednesday along Nui Coc, a man-made lake in northern Vietnam, local newswire VnExpress reported.
Covering an area of 2,500 acres, Nui Coc in Thai Nguyen Province is home to 89 islands and is integral to the surrounding area’s irrigation system. In recent years, the lake has rapidly evolved into a popular tourist destination in the province.
The project, officially named Nui Coc Lake Tourist Site, is expected to cost approximately VND15 trillion (US$670 million) and will include numerous buildings and structures to be completed during two phases over the next 20 years, according to the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen.
The contract for the project was awarded to Xuan Truong Construction, a company known for its experience with large-scale religious tourism projects in the country.
The first phase of the project (2016-2020) will focus on completing a network of roads connecting different sections of the area, including a 21km segment linking Nui Coc Lake to the main road, 35 kilometers of lake-side boulevard, and a road joining the lake with the Special National Historical Site of ATK Dinh Hoa Thai Nguyen.
A number of secondary components will also be assembled in this phase, including a reservoir system to substitute Nui Coc Lake, a welcome gate, a temple with a 150m-tall stupa, an altar for the Three Sages of Amidism (a branch of Buddhism widely practiced in East Asia), a reception center, a marina, and a tram station.
The construction of phase one is expected to finish in 2019, after which the site will welcome its first visitors.
The second phase of the project is scheduled to be implemented over 15 years (2020-2035), during which numerous service buildings such as a theme park, decorative sculptures, hotels, high-class resorts, and a cultural village will be erected.
Upon completion, the site will attract a great number of religious tourists and other visitors, boosting the growth of Thai Nguyen’s tourist industry.
