The Da Nang People’s Committee (PC) recently released a report on recent re-checks of all 18 projects planned for the Son Tra Peninsula and on the master plan for developing the national-level Son Tra tourism area towards 2025 with a vision to 2030. 

A corner of the Son Tra Peninsula

As of December 2012, the city authorities had given the go-ahead for 18 tourism projects.  In detail, 3 of them have already put into use whilst 3 others have been halted, one is underway and the remainder have yet to start.  

The total land area planned for the peninsula is about 1,222.5 ha, of which 94.05ha have been sold out, 274.19 ha have been leased to businesses, and the remainder have been earmarked for other purposes without land-use fee payments.

The planned projects together offer a total of 1,920 villa lots, 24 bungalows and 306 hotel rooms.

According to the report, the municipal PC identifies some principles for the master plan.

First of all, projects which have been put into use effectively will be kept unchanged. 

Secondly, for the purpose of ensuring security and defence on the peninsula, all the projects here are required to be developed by only domestic investors, and the sites of these projects are not ‘sensitive’ in respect of national defence and security.

Thirdly, importance should be attached to ensuring biodiversity conservation.  This means that any construction works donot adversely affect biodiversity and places where red-shanked douc langurs can live, especially in the northern and northeastern parts of the peninsula.  The deployment of any projects is fully required to comply with the special management mechanisms, and in harmony with natural ecological environment on the peninsula. 

The last principal is that, projects offering accommodations for temporary stays will only be allowed to build at a maximum height of 100m above sea level.  Meanwhile, projects for outdoor entertainment and community activities will be limited at a maximum height of 200m above sea level.  Projects offering accommodations for permanent residence will not permitted to be deployed on the peninsula.

In particular, under the report, the municipal authorities also suggested that the national government should continue recognising the Son Tra Peninsula as one of the tourism areas in line with the Prime Minister-approved master plan for accelerating the development of national-level tourism towards 2025 with a vision to 2030.

Furthermore, more constructive opinions about biodiversity conservation and defence and security should be continuously collected from organisations and individuals nationwide during the deployment of the national-level Son Tra tourism area in a bid to give the public an objective insight into this issue. 

Last, but not least, the benefits should be ensured for both investors and the whole community.