The implementation of the Nam O ecotourism project in Da Nang, central Vietnam has resumed after being suspended for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and objections from local inhabitants.

Trung Thuy Group, the developer of the project, on Saturday held a ceremony to restart work on it and announced a program supporting affected local residents in seeking alternative employment.

Premium ecotourism project

The investor described the Nam O ecotourism project as a premium tourist site that is expected to become a stunning destination on the heritage route through Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An in central part of Vietnam.

This tourist site is designed to stretch 35 hectares, with 10 hectares covering the coastline in Nam O, a fishing village in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang.

At the ceremony, the developer offered financial aid worth over VND600 million in total (US$25,500) to 50 poor villagers.

Under the program supporting affected local residents in seeking alternative employment, the investor donated 50 food carts, valued at over VND500 million ($21,300), to local inhabitants.

The donation of food carts is expected to help affected residents earn another source of income instead of entirely living on the dwindling traditional fishing sector, the investor said.

Also, its plan to open a street food alongside Nguyen Tat Thanh Park would help woo more visitors to Da Nang.

Controversial tourism project

In 2010, the Da Nang administration approved a project to develop a 36ha premium resort in the Nam O village.

However, objections from local residents and the impact of the pandemic left the project unable to reach completion.

According to the local villagers, the investor blocking paths leading to the sea to serve the project development would affect the livelihood of local fishermen and long-standing tombs and temples in the surrounding area.

To cope with the opposition, the administration of Da Nang reduced the project’s total area by over 10 hectares and excluded some areas, such as the Nam O rapids, from the project planning.

The city’s government also withdrew a plot of land measuring 50 meters wide near Nguyen Tat Thanh Street to build a park and a coastal square as well as a sandy beach in the project area to serve the public.

In addition, a road running through the village was widened to 5.5 meters.

Five paths leading to the sea were unblocked, while the location of some tombs were not included in the project planning anymore.​

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!