National Tourism Year which highlights the southern central coastal region will kick off in Phu Yen Province on April 1. The organising board said at a press on January 25 that an artistic programme to celebrate the 400th founding anniversary of Phu Yen Province will also take place.

Accordingly, over 30 special events will be organised in eight southern central coastal cities and provinces of Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Phu Yen during the event.

Highlights for the event will include the International Yacht Festival in Mui Ne Beach, Binh Thuan Province from March 17-20, International Firework Display in Danang City on April 29-30, the ASEAN Traditional Music Festival on June 1-7 in Phu Yen Province, the Nha Trang Sea Festival on June 11-15 in Nha Trang City and the cultural, sports and tourism festival of ethnic groups in the central and Central Highlands region in Phu Yen Province in July.

In preparation for the national promotion, the cities and provinces have worked with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to conduct two surveys in tourism destinations to create inter-regional tourism products.

Phu Yen Province, as the host of the event, has also built up several cultural, sports and tourism establishments and stepped up the development of infrastructure and transport to meet visitors' demands.

With the theme, "Exotic Beach and Island", National Tourism Year is an opportunity to promote the country's sea and island tourism, effectively exploit tourism potential and boost investment promotion.