Vung Tau is expected to get a boost in tourism and economic development from Ho Chi Minh City, as travel time from the two locations has been halved to 1.5 hours thanks to the newly-opened Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway.

The Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway was officially inaugurated on January 2, helping to ease congestion and cut the travel time from HCMC to Vung Tau by half from three hours.

The shortened travel time is seen as “a big chance and advantage for the development of the tourism industry of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province,” said Ho Van Loi, director of the provincial tourism department.

International tour organizers have hesitated to bring their tourists to Vung Tau over the past few years due to the long travel time plus the frequent gridlocks, Loi said.

With the time now cut, the travel agencies will be able to offer new products, helping to boost other services like transporting, accommodation, restaurant, and entertainment. Vung Tau will then be able to attract more investors, he added.

HCMC has a population of 10 million and an international airport, which makes it a potential and prioritized market for Vung Tau tourism, according to the director.

“The provincial tourism sector will focus on solutions to bring more holidaymakers from HCMC to Vung Tau in the coming years,” he said.

It will also seek to woo more international vacationers to Vung Tau, with some luxury resorts capable of providing professional services for this type of tourists.

But Vung Tau still has things that need improvement, Loi admitted, adding one of the major issues is the fact that tourists are still ripped off by eatery owners and sellers in the coastal city.