HCM CITY (VNS) — Binh Dinh tourism officials yesterday held a meeting with their HCM City counterparts to introduce the central province's tourism attractions like landscapes, culture, and history.

Nguyen Van Dung, deputy director of the Binh Dinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province offers attractions like beaches, sand skating, and diving among coral reefs.

It also boasts of Nui Mot lake, Thi Nai lagoon, Phuong Mai peninsula, and Hon Kho island.

The province, home to the capital of the Champa Kingdom centuries ago, has many vestiges of Cham culture. Eight clusters and 14 Cham towers in Binh Dinh are undamaged and boast of varied architecture.

There are many religious structures from 300 years ago like Thap Thap, Linh Phong, Long Khanh, and Son Long pagodas.

Dung said Binh Dinh is home to some precious tangible and intangible cultural heritages like the Imperial Citadel.

It is also well-known as the land of martial arts with its famous villages of Thuan Truyen, An Thai, and An Vinh.

Dung said except for its modest transportation facilities and lack of many standard hotels, the province has everything needed for tourism.

It boasts of unique art forms like bai choi folk music, hat boi opera, and Tay Son martial music, cultural festivals, the International Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival, famous trade villages, delicious foods, and a reputation for hospitality, he added.

He recommended interesting tours like Quy Nhon-Song Cau, Quy Nhon-An Nhon-Tay Son, Quy Nhon-Tam Quan, Phuong Mai-Nui Ba involving cultural, historic, and revolutionary relics.

Short tours of one or two days are perfect for marine eco-tourism, discovering islands, forests, lakes, trade villages, the Tay Son relics, and Cham culture, he said.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said since 2012 the city has been urging travel firms to tie up with their counterparts in Binh Dinh.

Lai Huu Phuong of the HCM City-based Ben Thanh Tourist said the Binh Dinh – Phu Yen – Tam Quan route could become a new tourism product if "good" airfares are available from the city to Binh Dinh.

"The room rates and cultural programmes showcased today are rather interesting.

"If Vietnam Airlines can support with a good airfare policy, tourism to the province this summer will thrive."

Dung promised that the province would persuade its transport companies to offer good rates and services for tourists who visit. — VNS