A stretch of beach in Ho Chi Minh City will be expanded nearly five times as part of plans to spark greater tourism interest with add more greenery, tourism facilities and transport infrastructure to the area.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities unveiled the plans for the Cần Giờ Beach zone, which envision a sprawling area of 2,870 hectares that will straddle the Long Hoà Commune and Cần Thạnh township in Cần Giờ District.

The expansion plans are expected to cost more than VNĐ217 trillion (US$9 billion), with construction to take 11 years, according to developer, Cần Giờ Urban and Tourism JSC, Viet Nam News reported.

The project will designate 750.6 hectares for greenery and parks, tourism facilities and transport infrastructure, and a 2,119.37-hectare area for infrastructure and land for defence purposes. There will be no space designated for residential use.

The coastal district of Cần Giờ is located 60km away from downtown Ho Chi Minh, and is well known for its UNESCO Mangrove Biosphere Reserve Forest. It has a 13-km coastline and extensive mangrove forest is intertwined with a dense system of rivers and canals and diverse flora and fauna.

Source: http://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Travel-News/Attractions