Son Tra Peninsula

Son Tra is a special giIt oI the god to Danang. It can

be seen Irom every places oI the city. With its sea-
oriented appearance, Son Tra acts as a giant screen
protecting Danang Irom storms and cyclones
coming Irom the sea.
10-km northeast oI the city center is Son Tra
Peninsula. It looks like a mushroom with its peak
693m above sea level. The cap oI the mushroom is
Son Tra Mountain and its stalk is the white sandy beach that aIIords an ideal area Ior
bathing, playing sports, Iishing and swimming.
Son Tra mountain is natural preservation area with various kinds oI plants and animals.
On this mountain, there still remain more than 30sq. kilometers oI natural Iorests,
nearly 300 types oI plants and several hundred kinds oI Iauna, including rare animal.
The scenery is very attractive, it is said that Iairies usually chose this place Ior landing,
singing, dancing and playing chess. The name Tien Sa (Tien: Fairy, Sa: landing) is
rooted Irom that.
From the top oI the mountain, we can see the view
oI our beloved city, Marble Mountains, Ba Na
Mount Chua. It is an enjoyable and peaceIul vista.
Suoi Da stream lies by the side oI the Ioot oI the
mountain, Iine sandy surIaces run round the
peninsula, several breaks oI waves are running
steadily up and down and washing up on the stones
heaped up around the seaside. There it is quiet Bai
But with groups oI small, nice-looking houses,
where people can sit Ior hours to hear the thunder oI waves and view the slanginess on
the Iar mount cliIIs.
At the mount Ioot, there are colorIul and graceIul coral beaches where diving tourism
can develop.
It is so majestic and it is so romantic, it is so wide and it is really beautiIul. In one-day
stay at Son Tra, we can enjoy living in the resplendent Ilow oI dawn and the quietness
oI twilight on this Iascinating landscape. And that is a time Ior us to realize the value oI
each and every moment and the true calling oI our hearts.
* Some pictures of Sontra peninsula



Other

Visiting the Son Tra PeninsuIa


Son Tra Peninsula is a low mountainous area fully covered
by forest . t is one of the city's lung. Son Tra Peninsula and
the Hai Van Pass embrace the Han River and form a wide
closed bay. From the air, the Son Tra Peninsula looks like a
fish fairy swimming to the Eastern Sea. From the sea, you
can see three mountain peaks: Co Ngua, Nghe and Mo
Dieu. The highest peak is 693m above the sea level.

- Updated. 12/18/2006 (GMT7)



Thousand viIIa peninsuIa

t present and in the future, Son Tra will be a peninsula with
1,000 modern villas owned by individuals and travel
companies. The purchase of ready-built villas or land lots
interests many people nationwide thanks to the peninsula's
preserved nature, and high-grade recreational and
convalescence services to be provided by on-the-spot
tourism projects by 2007.

- Updated. 6/23/2006 (GMT7)





Son Tra PeninsuIa - a major magnet

The Son Tra Peninsula was woken up with projects worth
VND2,000bil after the Danang People's Committee
approved tourism development in the area. t has proven to
be a precinct with potential on the Danang coastal tourist
route from the Hai Van Pass to Marble Mountains.







Visiting the Son Tra Peninsula
Son Tra Peninsula is a low mountainous area Iully
covered by Iorest . It is one oI the city`s lung. Son Tra
Peninsula and the Hai Van Pass embrace the Han
River and Iorm a wide closed bay. From the air, the
Son Tra Peninsula looks like a Iish Iairy swimming to
the Eastern Sea. From the sea, you can see three
mountain peaks: Co Ngua, Nghe and Mo Dieu. The
highest peak is 693m above the sea level.
For tens oI thousands oI years, the peninsula was an
island. However, alluvial soil deposited by rivers
connected it with the mainland. From the peninsula, tourists can see the coast lines and



enjoy Danang Bay, Danang City, the Han river, the Hai Van Pass and the Marble
Mountains. In the early nineteenth century, the Nguyen Dynasty built many deIensive
Iortresses and observation posts here. In 1858, the French Iired the Iirst shot on the
peninsula and started their invasion oI Vietnam.
Nowadays, the peninsula`s tourism potentials have been aroused. Some entertainment
areas have been built along the beaches. Tourists can go paragliding and ride in motor
boats. You can also go to Iish Iarms, go around the peninsula by boat, go Iishing oIIshore
or go diving to enjoy the colourIul coral reeIs.
%he Son %ra Natural Preservation Zone
The 4,439 ha zone includes 4,180 ha oI Iorest with 3,431 ha oI Iorest area (2,806 ha oI
natural Iorest and 625 ha oI aIIorested area), and 748 ha oI uncultivated area.
The zone consists oI a wet ecological coastal system and a primeval tropical Iorest. It has
diverse tropical Ilora and rare species at risk oI extinction.
The zone has many beautiIul landscapes and historical relics. It is also the source oI the
Iresh water supply Ior the city and is considered a barrier protecting the city Irom winds
and storms.
Visiting Son %ra Peninsula
- Location: Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District.
A road around the peninsula along the city`s beaches and on to Hoi An Old Town has
been built. Many tourist zones have been put into use or are being built. Visitors can stay
here and bathe at the beautiIul beaches.
Tourism services include bathing, mountain climbing, scuba diving, Iishing and visiting
caged Iish Iarms. Tourists will also be instructed how to catch cuttle-Iish and shrimp, go
water-skiing and paragliding and eat 'goi ca (Iresh Iish mixed with lemon and
vegetables) on board.



Thousand villa peninsula

At present and in the Iuture, Son Tra will be a
peninsula with 1,000 modern villas owned by
individuals and travel companies. The purchase oI
ready-built villas or land lots interests many people
nationwide thanks to the peninsula's preserved nature,
and high-grade recreational and convalescence
services to be provided by on-the-spot tourism
projects by 2007.
That the Son Tra peninsula, considered as Danang's
lung, will be urbanised with major tourism projects is a major concern oI the city
authorities. Records oI Son Tra show that it has primeval Iorests with 289 high level
plants oI 217 genres and 90 groups, including unique Indochina peninsular species and
Iruit trees. Honey Iound at Son Tra is well-known as a valuable specialty. There are also
29 kinds oI wild animals, especially monkeys. This is the reason Ior its popular name in
Western countries, "Monkey Mountain". 51 kinds oI birds and 15 kinds oI reptiles have
been Iound. The peninsula also has 10 beautiIul beaches along the southern side with
clean white sand, and Iresh water streams.
Son %ra - a wild space
Lots oI people cannot help but be surprised by the nearly intact primeval Iorests at the
peak oI Son Tra. There is an old mother banyan tree with nine trees surrounding it by the
Danang Bay. 5-6m old trees with wide leaves can be Iound at a height oI 400m. It is not
on exaggeration to say you can sit in the shade oI large trees and look directly out on the
sea. In 1995, Son Tra only had some shelters oI Ioresters. Then some people who are
very keen on wild natural scenery came to build the Iirst villa-styled houses, which look
like those in the central region or are oI Cham architecture or like French rural houses.
For example, documentary maker Doan Huy Giao built roads and two old style houses oI
Quang Nam Province on the peninsula. Most skillIully, he has replaced existing jackIruit
and sandalwood trees with native ones. When his house is completed, it will be decorated
with over 500 antique pottery objects.Series oI villa on Son Tra peninsula The 30-km
ring road helps increase the tourism value oI the peninsula. The Danang People's
Committee has approved the planning oI Son Tra to be a 2,200-ha tourist zone.
Five tourism projects with total capital oI VND1,200bil have been implemented to
develop a Iive star eco-tourism and convalescence peninsula. Each project includes
hundreds oI 400-600m2 villas. In Bai Trem, some oI the 40 planned villas have been
built with the architecture oI houses in Swedish and French rural areas and modern villas
oI urban areas. The remaining area will be Ior shelters, gardens and parking.
In Bai But, many people want to buy land in the Green Lake Villa Area with its 254 land
lots. This is attractive thanks to being near the large Linh Ung Pagoda. There is a private
museum oI pottery products and paintings by artist Dinh Y Nhi in the middle oI the


Iorest. Most houses have beautiIul architecture and are situated between green Iorest
gardens and surrounded by streams.
Mr. Dang Phuc Sinh, director oI the Son Tra Joint Stock Company in Danang said that
'Most provinces in central Vietnam have the sea but Son Tra has both sea and mountains
with picturesque scenery, so we decided to invest in this area. Moreover, it takes less than
one hour by car Irom Son Tra to Cua Dai and Hoi An old town. The coastal tourism road
Irom Son Tra to Hoi An will be put into use later this year. The company has built the
Son Tra Resort & Spa with a 5-star hotel, a coastal entertainment area and 200 luxurious
and well-equipped villas. The peninsula next to the mountain and looking out on the sea
will surely provide tourists with a very perIect natural area. Paths and parking oI the Da
Stream villa area have been built. Water supply, telephone and roads surrounding the
peninsula and roads to the tourist zones have been complete
The Son Tra Peninsula was woken up with projects
worth VND2,000bil aIter the Danang People's
Committee approved tourism development in the area.
It has proven to be a precinct with potential on the
Danang coastal tourist route Irom the Hai Van Pass to
Marble Mountains.
%ourism and investment potential
Situated in the middle oI Danang Bay next to the
bustling and modern city center, the peninsula retains its sub-tropical natural beauty with
climate, sea, mountains and Iorest, and cloud and Iog all year round. The Son Tra eco-
tourism zone has become an attraction on the tourist route Irom Van Village, and the Hai
Van Pass along Nguyen Tat Thanh road to Thuan Phuoc Bridge and Son Tra - Dien Ngoc
road to Hoi An old town.
Son Tra - a huge 'rock-garden' - is ideal Ior visitors to contemplate and discover the
beauty oI Danang Bay and a secure place Ior international meetings. Six resorts have
been invested with total capital oI nearly VND2,000bil. OI these, 250 rooms oI the Iirst
phase oI the Son Tra Resort & Spa project with capital oI VND600bil will be completed
in July 2006. Mrs. Vu Thuy Hanh, vice general director oI the Son Tra Joint-stock
Company said it would be the largest holiday resort ever invested by a domestic company
in central Vietnam and the second 5-star one aIter Furama.
Site clearance has been carried out Ior the Bai But Bay Resort (VND300bil), Bai Trem
tourist zone oI the Truong Phuc Company (VND50bil), Tien Sa Resort (VND30bil), and
Bai Bac tourist zone (VND300bil).
The resorts will have gardens and pleasure houses with traditional and modern style in
harmony, and creative Ieatures with speciIic topics. Sports activities including scuba
diving, canoeing, water skiing and jet skiing will enable visitors to see diverse sea



creatures and coral reeIs. A marine reserve has been established to raise rare and speciIic
sea creatures oI Danang.
reation of strength and position for Danang tourism
OI six key tourist areas in the Danang tourism development plan, three are by the sea.
The Son Tra Peninsula tourist area has the Iollowing speciIic targets. In the period 2004-
2005, projects Ior Bai Nam, Bai But, Bai Trem, Bai Tien Sa and high-grade villas in the
south will be promoted. From 2005 to 2010, the Son Tra - Tho Quang tourist zone will
operate with aquatic sports and a cable car. Environmental protection and comprehensive
inIrastructure will also be taken into consideration.
'Investors are required to take measures to preserve, restore and develop the ecological
system in the peninsula', said Mr. Luong Minh Sam, Director oI the Danang Department
oI Tourism, when asked about the environmental protection during tourism development.
More attractions on the peak oI the peninsula will be developed along with a ring road
designed Ior sustainable development.
Although projects are still under construction, the Son Tra eco-tourism area attracted
many domestic and Ioreign visitors over the past days. This shows bright prospects Ior
tourism development on the peninsula. 'In the upcoming Danang Culture - Tourism
Festival 2005, the Son Tra Peninsula will be an attractive destination Ior marine tourism
programs, contributing to the increasing number oI tourists to Danang', said director Sam.
In the near Iuture, with its advantageous position on the world heritage route, the Son Tra
peninsula will be an impressive destination Ior those who want to live with nature and
enjoy the unique scenery oI the city aIter their long journey to the world cultural
heritages in central Vietnam.
Especially, while other competing destinations in South East Asia are Iaced with
insecurity and natural disasters, Vietnam is considered saIe Ior Ioreign investors.
Australian businessman Richard who intends to invest in the Bai But tourist zone said
'With the glorious natural scenery, Iresh air and calm atmosphere, Ior us, Son Tra
Peninsula is considered a magnet Ior sea resort construction'.
The development oI the Son Tra Peninsula as a high-grade sea resort and eco-tourism
zone will eIIectively exploit all potentials and create impetus Ior Danang tourism. It
promises to become another Bali oI Southeast Asia and the world.
(Doan Luong)

En do Son Tr
Son Tra la mt dc n ma thin nhin d hao phong
ban tng cho Da Nng. Dung bt cu o du trn dt Da
Nng du co th nhin thy ngon nui nay. Trong dang
nhoai nguoi vuon ra bin, Son Tra la mt buc binh
phong khng l che chn bo ging cho thanh ph.
Nm cach trung tm thanh ph 10 km v phia Dng
Bc, ban dao Son Tra voi d cao 693 m so voi muc
nuoc bin; ging hinh mt cy nm, du nm la nui
Son Tra va thn nm la bi cat bi, lng dong, tao nn nhung bi cat vang dep d, trong
lanh. Dy con la mt khu bao tn thin nhin da dang va phong phu, duoc bao v theo
ch d rung cm quc gia, ni ting la noi co tham thuc vt dc sc voi nhiu loai thu
rung qui him nhu huou, nai, khi, vuon, duoi uoi, vooc cha va, ga mt do... canh vt
thin nhin noi dy rt quyn r; dn gian dn rng cac vi tin tu trn troi thuong chon
bi cat noi dy d giang trn, ca mua, danh co voi nhau... nn con co tn la Tin Sa.
Trn dinh Son Tra, vua tn huong khng khi mat diu, trong lanh cua bin va nui, vua
phong tm mt ra xa, toan canh thanh ph Da Nng, Ng Hanh Son, rng Ba Na - Nui
Chua... nhu thu gon vao trong tm mt cua mi nguoi.
Va cng tai dy, du khach co th dm thm con sui Da tho mng bn chn nui, hoa
minh vao dong nuoc mat lanh cua bin, ngm nhin nhung bi cat vong quanh ban dao
sach s va min mang, nuoc triu du dn ln xung hang triu nm bao mon va lau sach
bong nhung tang da chng cht ven bo, dung chn tai Bi But yn tinh voi nhung khu
nha nho xin xn d nghe song v hoc di theo canh bay cua nhung con chim yn d di
lam t huong v cac bo da chnh vnh.
Va ngay duoi chn nui, voi nhung bi san h tuyt dep, dy mau sc s la noi ly tuong d
phat trin cac loai hinh du lich ln.
Voi muc dich dua ban dao tuyt dep nay phuc vu ngay mt nhiu hon cho du lich, chinh
quyn thanh ph d tin hanh quy hoach lai khu vuc nay voi nhiu khu du lich moi d va
dang duoc xy dung nhu: Bi Rang, Bi Nm, Bi Nam... doc con duong lon ven theo
suon nui. Tai dy, s moc ln nhung khu nghi dung cao cp va hang ngan bit thu sang
trong d chung ta co dip dm minh vao mt khng gian tuyt dep cua troi, my, non,
nuoc.
Hung vi ma lng man, phong khoang ma tuoi dep, mt ngay o Son Tra ta s duoc chim
dm trong ve huy hoang binh minh va su lng l hoang hn cua mt vung ban dao son
thuy huu tinh. Va dy cng la nhung luc chc chn ta s nhn ra gia tri cua tung khoanh
khc sng va ting noi dich thuc cua long minh.