Ba Ria – Vung Tau: Hon Nguu Aquarium - A unique tourist attraction, an impressive highlight in the Coastal City

DNHN - On July 17, Vung Tau Cable Car Tourism Joint Stock Company (VCCT) announced the reactivation of the Hon Nguu Aquarium project at Bai Truoc beach after receiving an official permission to resume construction.

Mr. Dau The Anh, General Director of VCCT, shared with the press: “After more than four years of suspension, VCCT has now posted notices and the overall design of the project for public awareness. The project site has been fenced off, separating it from Tran Phu Street, with infrastructure connections between Tran Phu Street and the project. Navigation buoys have been installed to ensure maritime safety. We are currently surveying the previously constructed wave-blocking embankment, investigating its submerged section, and surveying the seabed area. We are reconnecting with international partners for construction and equipment supply for the aquarium. The project is expected to start construction in September and be completed by the end of 2028, ready for operation."

The cable car station and Hon Nguu Aquarium complex is part of the overall Ho May Park tourism, cultural, entertainment, and resort area, invested by Vung Tau Cable Car Joint Stock Company.

The project spans 6.7 hectares and will serve 3,000-5,000 visitors daily upon completion. It includes a 23-story 5-star hotel, an aquarium, a marine sports area, a beach, an artificial swimming pool, parking lots, greenery, lifeguard huts, and other auxiliary structures. The total investment for the project is $50 million (over 1.2 trillion VND).

The investor has been meticulously preparing financially for the past five years. The Department of Finance has also issued a statement confirming that the company has sufficient financial capacity to implement the project as per regulations. Currently, the company's available capital accounts for more than 50% of the total projected investment.

“Shareholders have also agreed to contribute an additional 400 billion VND according to the progress. Additionally, we have other financial plans from business profits, financial leverage, and bank sponsorships. Therefore, we can fully address the financial aspect,” Mr. Dau The Anh affirmed.

"The tourism complex is planned to be developed into a high-class cultural, entertainment, and resort area, with unique characteristics, maximizing the enjoyment of the natural marine landscape. It harmoniously combines resort and entertainment areas with uniquely interconnected spaces close to nature, offering diverse tourism products and high-quality services to cater to all tourists. The architectural structures are uniquely and impressively designed to create highlights for the entire tourism area," the investor's representative added.

At the press conference, Mr. Hoang Ngoc Linh, Vice Chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Tourism Association, stated that he is very pleased with the high determination and commitment of the investor to implement the project. He hopes that Hon Nguu Aquarium will be a unique, breakthrough tourist attraction that will significantly contribute to the province's tourism development, becoming a highlight in travel guides for both domestic and international tourists. Mr. Linh also affirmed that Hon Nguu Aquarium will bring a “transformed” beauty to Vung Tau city's tourism.

Previously, in March 2020, the Standing Committee of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Party Committee directed the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to require the investor to halt the construction of the 23-story hotel.

In October 2019, the investor of the “Vung Tau Aquarium” project (also known as Hon Nguu Aquarium) conducted land reclamation at the front of Bai Truoc (adjacent to Tran Phu Street) to implement the project.

When the project started, there were many public opinions suggesting that the 23-story hotel would ruin Vung Tau's landscape, and that land reclamation would affect the water flow and marine environment.

Therefore, the Ba Ria - Vung Tau province temporarily suspended the project to review it entirely. They also invited leading environmental experts to survey and comprehensively evaluate the project.

Based on that evaluation, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province confirmed that the project implementation would not significantly affect the water flow and marine environment in the area. Now, the investor is permitted to reclaim land and build the wave-blocking embankment.

The construction of the “Hon Nguu Aquarium Vung Tau” project is a matter of great interest to the local government and residents, promising to bring a new breeze to the development of the tourism industry in Vung Tau city in particular and Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in general.

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