Kayaking in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in central Quang Binh province

The projects, including 12 in Dong Hoi city, are intended to improve infrastructure for the province’s tourism sector by 2020.

They focus on establishing urban residential areas and building centres for entertainment, cuisines and shopping in order to meet the increasing tourism demand. Several aim to preserve and develop the local ecosystem.

Highlights of the list are the 300-hectare Da Nhay–Ba Trai Resort Complex in Bo Trach district requiring 1.5 trillion VND (69.1 million USD) in investment capital, the 200-hectare Hai Ninh Golf Course in Quang Ninh district at a total cost of one trillion VND (46 million USD) and the 500-hectare Bao Ninh–Hai Ninh Luxury Resort with an estimated investment of 2.5 trillion VND (115.2 million USD).

Quang Binh has created various preferential policies to support investors.

Boasting a long coastline riddled with beaches, historic and spiritual sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Quang Binh has plentiful opportunities to develop tourism into one of its economic pillars.

The Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park with its world-famous caves is said to be as popular as Ha Long Bay with adequate investment.

The province has created a number of tours, without overlapping, at cave systems around the province, as well as seaside eco-tourism and spiritual tours to Vung Chua – Dao Yen, General Vo Nguyen Giap’s final resting place.

One of the province’s weaknesses is the lack of accommodation due to a limited number of hotels and guesthouses.

In 2014, Quang Binh welcomed 2.7 million visitors, up nearly 100 percent, 60 percent of which were international tourists, a 26 percent increase.