Xuan Loc will expedite the development by way of industry and tourism services

*When industry undergones a vigorous change

The road leading to Xuan Loc IZ looks as decent and spacious as the one to Amata IZ of Bien Hoa City

Xuan Loc’s intention to enhance economic development by way of industry was clearly expressed when its first industrial zone (IZ) with a total area of 110 hectares (in which over 64 hectares are for industrial land and the remaining is for building roads, depots and water treatment plants, and cultivating trees) was built by Bien Hoa Industrial Zone Development Company (Sonadezi) as the host investor. The IZ is located near Highway No. 1 and nearly 2 kilometers from the center of Gia Ray Town. Mr. Nguyen Van Chau, official of Sonadezi and head of Xuan Loc IZ operation team said: Essential works such as electric, telephone and water system and the main road leading to the IZ have been up to now completed. Currently, two foreign investors have come for land lease: One is Ajinomoto Company, which has leased 1.6 hectares to build intermediary reservoirs containing ami fertilizer to be supplied to environs, and the other is Dona Standa Company, which has leased 26 hectares and will build a factory manufacturing sports shoes for export. Thus, the land leased by these two companies makes up nearly 50% of the total area of land for lease in the IZ. “Recently, some companies have also come here to ask for land lease. Nevertheless, by that time the Lunar New Year (Year of the Pig) so-called Tet in Vietnamese was coming near, and we had to delay it until after Tet,” said Mr. Chau. Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhat, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party of Xuan Loc District noted: “Pursuant to a Resolution issued by the District Communist Party, Xuan Loc will strive to have 50-60% of the IZ area used for construction investment. We hope that Dona Stand Company will soon develop, build and put its factory into operation since this is a big leather shoe manufacturer with an investment capital of US$ 15 million and is expected to employ 3,000-5,000 local laborers. In addition, accompanying services such as rooming houses, eating and drinking will be developed.”

Besides this IZ, Xuan Loc is planning  four other IZ complexes (IZC) at the following communes: Suoi Cat (20 hectares), Xuan Hung (20 hectares), Xuan Hoa (50 hectares) and Xuan Dinh (30 hectares).  Suoi Cat and Xuan Dinh IZCs have been so far approved for construction by the Provincial Government. It can be said that once these IZ and IZCs start operation, there will be  a more vigorous change in labor structure and economic development of Xuan Loc District. This year, Xuan Loc is striving to have a 24,9% increase in industry value, up 3% from  last year.

* Exploring tourism

In addition to the above-mentioned IZ and IZCs, exploring natural landscapes to serve for tourism is facilitated since Xuan Loc is a mountainous district. One of the typical example is Chua Chan Mountain (so-called Gia Lao Mountain) with an altitude of 836 meters above sea level. This mountain range is majestically situated on an area of about 55 hectares at Xuan Truong Commune and is also leant upon by Gia Ray Town, the administrative center of Xuan Loc District. Buu Quang Tu Pagoda (so-called Gia Lao Pagoda) is located on the side of the mountain, at an altitude of 600 meters and was built a long time ago. Every year, large crowds of pilgrims travel to the Pagoda, and Chua Chan Mountain has been chosen as a tourist destination by lots of people. Mr. Dang Cong Ngoan, Party Secretary of Xuan Truong Commune said: On the fifteens of the lunar January, April, and July, there are so many tourists outside the Province making a pilgrimage here that households living along the road leading to the mountain have to open big  areas too keep guests’ vehicles. Estimatedly, there are more than  100,000 guest  visits to this mountain every year. Besides spiritual purpose, pilgrims choose Gia Lao Pagoda because there are  beautiful  landscapes and good security here. In order to assure order for guests at Gia Lao Mountain tourist area, the People’s Committee of Xuan Truong Commune has established a guard group consisting of 6 persons, divided into guard posts to maintain order from the foot of the mountain to the pagoda. During peak time, police and other local guards are also supplemented. Mr. Ngoan said: “Beggars who gather here from other communes and disturb guests are advised to return to their localities. Along the path from the foot of the mountain to the pagoda, there are only two disabled persons living in their own houses here allowed to sell lottery tickets.” Gia Lao Mountain has a great potential to attract tourists. Currently, Xuan Loc District collects over 500 million VND only from pilgrims every year. The above-mentioned amount of money collected (5,000 VND per ticket) is from pilgrims in groups while tickets have not been sold to individual guests and local people yet. In order to explore the charming landscapes of Chua Chan Mountain,  Xuan Loc District has devised a plan to develop tourism here. Under this plan, a suspended cable system will be invested to draw more tourists to the mountain.

Standing on Gia Lao Mountain on beautiful days, tourists can clap their eyes far to Phan Thiet Sea (in Binh Thuan Province) and Vung Tau Sea (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province). Chua Chan Mountain is an attractive tourist destination in Xuan Loc District and is also a buffering step for tourist  development at mountainous lakes such as those in Le and Gia Ui  Mountains in the future.

(Translated by THKC)