Ha Tien Beach Travel Package Tours, Ha Tien Tour Information Hotels, Kien Giang Travel Vietnam Map Guide

HA TIEN OVERVIEW

The destination of Ha Tien is situated on the Gulf of Thailand, 8km (5mi) from the Cambodian border, the town of Ha Tien and its surrounding area are famous for their warm-water, white-sand beaches and fishing villages. The area is also noted for its seafood, black-pepper tree plantations and towering limestone formations. The Ha Tien Area was founded in 1679 when Chinese-born Mac Cuu, dissatisfied with the Qing Dynasty, travelled to Vietnam and established the town. As such, Ha Tien offers many scenic places of historical value including ancient tombs, pagodas and the mausoleum of Mac Cuu. There are several additional attractions in the area: Thach Dong stone grotto, a piece of green stone emerging from the ground; Chong stone; Hon Phu Tu, Father and Son rocks which lie approximately 100m offshore; and Hang Pagoda. By boat, one can reach Hai Tac islets, 16 islets around which the water is 4m deep. On the coast of Hon Doc, the largest islet is a magnificent white sand beach running towards the sea. Near Hon Chong Beach is Tien Cave that has 2 openings; the east door on the sea and the west door, opening on Duoc Beach. In the cave, there are many oddly shaped stone drops, some suggesting King Nguyen�s gold throne. Hon Trem Beach, 1000m from Hon Chong Beach offers the nicest white sand in Ha Tien. Hang Pagoda is also very interesting. This pagoda, 40m underground, somber and foggy, echoes the sounds of the pagoda�s bell on the stone drops. Ha Tien Economy The Ha Tien border economic zone has transformed the small town of Ha Tien in Kien Giang Province. In 1999, Ha Tien was earning only a few billion dong from fishing, but in 2003, its booming trade, tourism and service sectors poured VND40 billion (US$2.5 million) into the local budget. Located on the western-most side of the province, Ha Tien is near Cambodia and Thailand and has both roads and waterways that connect with the Mekong River delta. For each of the last three years, Ha Tien�s export revenue and tourist turnover have increased 25 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively. Investors are entitled to a 50 per cent reduction in land rental, and are allowed to generate capital from domestic and foreign sources to build roads, water and electricity projects. The Government has also allowed the town to use 50 per cent of its local budget revenue to build urban development projects. With its beaches and attractive landscapes, the community has a thriving tourism sector, which is seeking foreign investors to upgrade tourist attractions, amusement parks, and international standard hotels along Mui Nai beach. Other development projects, including a commercial centre and a border market have already been built, have opened up trading opportunities for people living along the Cambodian border. The local authorities this year will continue investing hundreds of billions of dong in major projects like the Ha Tien Commercial Centre, a border market, a 92ha new urban