Thi Nai Lagoon is a tourist attraction in Binh Dinh Province. As a subzone in Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, the lagoon area will be developed as a sustainable eco-tourism model. — Photo bazantravel.com

Nhon Hoi Economic Zone in the central province of Binh Dinh is growing.

The area will expand by more than 2,300ha, the provincial People's Committee have announced.

The zone is divided into eight functional subzones covering tourism, urban, trading and service and industrial park areas.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved the decision to increase the economic zone from 12,000ha to 14,308ha.

The zone will expand to the Phuong Mai peninsula.

The new expansion will cover the Becamex Industrial Park and Becamex Urban Area while most of the Phuong Mai peninsula will be used for tourism, service and urban development.

A new administration centre, training facility, high school, hospital and sports centres will all be built to service the zone.

Chairman of Binh Dinh People's Committee Ho Quoc Dung said: "The zone is planned as a multi-sector economic zone with the focus on tourism, services, industry, ports, renewable energy and fisheries."

He added it will be one of the major economic development hubs and international attractions in the centre of Viet Nam.

Dung asked the management board to review and detail designs for the new plans, especially in the Thi Nai Lagoon subzone, where they will develop as a conservation area to preserve the lagoon mangroves ecosystem, as well as develop it into a sustainable eco-tourism model.

Located in the coastal province of Binh Dinh, the zone is 5 km from Quy Nhon City and 300 km from Da Nang.

Nhon Hoi Economic Zone has attracted 81 investment projects with a total capital of nearly VND58,000 billion (US$2.49 billion), including $339 million from foreign companies. — VNS