Vung Tau: Spatial Identity Formation, Tourism and Sustainable Development At A Peninsular Town

Spatial Identity Formation, Tourism
and Sustainable Development At A
Peninsular Town

Dr. Ulas Basar Gezgin
Economics lecturer
E-mail: ulasbasar@gmail.com

• Gezgin, U. B. (2010). Spatial identity
formation, tourism and sustainable
development at a peninsular town. (Paper
prepared for ACCS 2011: the Asian Conference
on Cultural Studies 2011. 23-25 March
2011,Osaka, Japan.)

spatial identity formation, tourism &
7/10/2011 2
sustainable development

Contents
• 1. Vung Tau: Geographical, Economic and Social
Background
• 2. Research Questions
• 3. Findings of the Site Visits and Fieldwork
• 4. Discussion of Spatial Identity and Sustainability
Issues for the Future of Vung Tau
• 5. Conclusions and Recommendations
• 6. References

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Abstract
• There are inherent links between urban planning, economic
development and tourism. Tourism is a common path to
economic development in some cities, and usually urban
planners are asked to form a spatial identity for the city to
promote distinctiveness of the location. In this paper, urban
design and public spaces of Vung Tau which is a peninsular
touristic town that is 120 km to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
are analyzed, and a strategic planning vision for local
identity building is developed. Basic
information, industries, geography and tourist attractions
are presented as a background to proposals. Urban
structure, transportation infrastructure, social
infrastructure, accessibility, urban
legibility, identity, character, public spaces etc are
discussed. Urban planning observations have been shared.
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Abstract
• After an inventory of landmarks, touristic activities and
recent projects, planning tasks for the future are
elaborated. Finally, some proposals are made to build a
distinct identity for the town. This research is based on
site visits and field work by the author. Since research
on Vung Tau is almost nil, this work can contribute to
the relevant academic research areas as well as
municipal services. In that sense, this paper is written
to be a seminal work for further research in the locality
as well as for future urban development projects. A
sustainable development framework has been
endorsed throughout the paper.

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Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau
(Source: Google Earth)

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Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau
(Source: Google Earth)

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Vung Tau (Source: Google Earth)

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Vung Tau Tourist Map
(Source: http://vungtau-city.com/?page_id=13 )

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1. Vung Tau: Geographical, Economic
and Social Background
• VT is a peninsular touristic town of Vietnam. It is 120 km. south of Ho Chi
Minh City.
• It is 993 km far from Bangkok, 1033 km far from Kuala Lumpur and 1099
km far from Singapore.
• As a peninsular town, it is surrounded from 3 sides by South China Sea.
• As a tropical resort (climate: moderate tropical monsoon), it is open to
tourism at all the times of the year.
• Its area is 178 km2 and it is population is nearly 250,000 (2004).
• Its average temperature is 26oC and average rainfall is 1200 mm.
• It has two ‘mountains’: Big Mountain and Small Mountain.
• The shape of these twin mountains is considered to resemble a dragon
swimming in the sea by the local people.
• Big Mountain is 250 meters high with an area of 7 million m2, while Small
Mountain is 170 meters high with an area of 4 million m2 (VCCT, 2011).

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1. Vung Tau: Geographical, Economic
and Social Background
• The town is connected to Ho Chi Minh City
• by Highway 51, Highway 52 and Saigon-Vung
Tau Highway.
• It takes 2-3 hours to go from Ho Chi Minh City
to Vung Tau by highway.
• The town is also connected to Ho Chi Minh
City by water.
• Hydrofoil takes 2-3 hours from Ho Chi Minh
City to Vung Tau (VCCT, 2011).
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2. Research Questions
• Q1) Is the tourism development in Vung Tau sustainable? If yes, in
what ways compared to other touristic cities of the world with
similar levels of population, area, density etc? If it is successful, can
it be replicated in other Vietnamese and/or Southeast Asian cities?
If not, what may be urban planning recommendations?
• Q2) Is Vung Tau ready for the future challenges of city planning?
• Q3) Is Vung Tau globally competitive enough as a touristic city or as
a eco city? If not, what can be done?
• Q4) Can Vung Tau be planned as an art city in the future or a fishing
city?
• Q5) Which points should be considered, if Strategic Environmental
Assessment of Vung Tau would be prepared?

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3. Findings of the Site Visits
and Fieldwork: Spatial Identity
• The site visits have taken place on 15-16
September 2007; 9-10 December 2007; 10
January 2010; and 2-4 October 2010.
• (To be continued.)

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3.1. Two Faces of the City:
Ferry Station vs. Fishing Village
• The hydrofoil stops at the ferry station. This is
the sea entrance of the town.
• On the other hand, the harbor is behind, and
it looks totally different.
• For one thing, it is full of smell of dried fish. It
retains the fishing village character.

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3.2. Traditional Market
• Traditional market is mainly for fruits and
vegetables. The market is roofed. It is not very
well known by international tourists.

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3.3. Colonial Structures
• Vung Tau was called as ‘Cape Saint Jacques’
under French colonial government (1859-1954).
• Some colonial buildings survived from that era.
• Most famous of these is the White Villa (Bach
Dinh) which was built by the French governor of
Indochina who later served as the president of
France Paul Doumer. The villa was built on the
former site of a Vietnamese fortress on Big
Mountain. It also hosts an exhibition of
shipwreck ceramics collected offshore of Vung
Tau (Tram, 2008).
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3.4. Landmarks
• 3.4.1. Christ of Vung Tau
• This statue sometimes also called as ‘Statue of Jesus Christ with
outstretched arms’ is a statue on top of Small Mountain. It has balconies
on its arms for sight-viewing. By its 28 meters of height, it is the largest
sculpture in South Vietnam. It was built in 1971 (Wikitravel, 2011).
• 3.4.2. Vung Tau Lighthouse
• The lighthouse is on the top of Small Mountain. It was built in
1865, rebuilt in 1885 and in 1913. It is 170 meters above the sea level. Its
light can be seen from a distance of 56 km. at the sea (TNN, 2008a).
• 3.4.3. Small Mountain (Nui Nho) and Big Mountain (Nui Lon)
• As stated in the beginning, they are the main elevations in Vung Tau. Small
Mountain was more accessible than Big Mountain, as tourists could visit
Lighthouse and the Christ of Vung Tau. But with the opening of Sky Park on
Big Mountain, more tourists visit Big Mountain. However, access to Big
Mountain is via cable car. Thus, it is low-impact development. Small
Mountain and Big Mountain will be connected by cable car.

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3.4. Landmarks
• 3.4.4. Martyr’s Memorial (Lovers Area)
• This area is the cemetery of the Vietnam-American war martyrs.
• A memorial structure with Vietnam flag stands here. Since it is a
little bit far from the center, it is also considered to be as a retreat
for lovers. That is why it is also called ‘Lovers Area’.
• 3.4.5. Ferry Boat Station
• As stated before, this is the marine gateway to the town.
• 3.4.6. The Port
• As stated before, this is the less visible backyard of the town.
• 3.4.7. Imperial Plaza
• This is a 4-level plaza that has a supermarket, clothes shops, a food
court and a seaview seafood restaurant at the top. The project
started in 2004 and the plaza was opened in 2007. It comprises an
area of 7,000 m2 (Son, 2007).

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3.5. Sky Park
• Sky Park (Cloud Lake Cultural and Ecotourism
Park) has been opened in Big Mountain in 2010.
Access to the park is by cable car only. Cable car
is quite rare in Vietnam. As of 2010, they are only
operating in Dalat and Ba Na (Danang). Ba Na
Cable Car offers the world’s longest nonstop
cable car ride (5,042 meters) which takes 15
minutes. It has also the longest distance from the
terminals in the world (nearly 1,300 meters)
(Huu, 2009). The cable car at Vung Tau is 201
meters above the sea level (Long, 2010a).

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Map of Sky Park, Big Mountain, VT.

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Source: Vung Tau Cable Car Tourism Company. http://www.vcct.com.vn

3.5. Sky Park
• According to the official brochure and map of the operating
company for the Sky Park, Vung Tau, the following are the
components of the park area:
• Buffalo Island, Yacht, Fishing Club, Parking Lot, Station No.1, Starfish
Restaurant, Station No. 2, Uncle Ho Garden, Sightseeing
Car, Mountain God Temple, Blockhouse, Caribbean Pine Trees
Forest, Chapel, Sunrise Restaurant, Tien Sa Restaurant, Peacock
Garden, Lagerstormia Forest, Roundabout, Center
Restaurant, Children’s World, Ostrich Garden, Outdoor Stage, Viba-
Historical Monument, Cloud Lake Restaurant, Upper Lake, Lower
Lake, Waterfall, Cherry Blossom, Maitreya Buddha, Forest for
Picnic, Bamboo Forest, Discovery Road, Picnic and Camping Area, X-
Games Area, Electric Train, Sliding Car, and Outdoor Festival Area
(VCCT, 2011).

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3.5. Sky Park
• Big Mountain top was opened to construction by French
colonial government, as they built a house on the top of
the mountain in 1940. The house is now part of the park.
Buffalo Island is on reclaimed land and it is mainly for
souvenir photos. Next to that is the marina for the yachts.
The waterfall has an height of 9 meters and a bridge is
connecting two sides of the lake. The Buddha sculpture is
30 meters tall.
• Only bicycles and electric cars are allowed in the park. This
is highly unusual for Vietnam, as the country has the
highest motorbike per capita in the world.
• The park offers overnight camping service as well
(VCCT, 2011).

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4. Discussion of Spatial Identity and
Sustainability Issues for the Future of Vung Tau
• 4.1. Planning Tasks for the Future
• 4.1.1. High-rise Buildings
• One problem for the future spatial identity of the town is the high-rise development. The city
image can’t be taken for granted. There should be clear regulations setting the height limits.
Otherwise, the town will lose its distinctive image and will be like any other city.
• 4.1.2. Resettlement and Expansion
• The view from Big Mountain shows that the central areas are heavily built. ‘Modern’
structures stand together with more ‘traditional’ structures. As there will be more investment
in the area, there will be more pressure on ‘traditional’ structures. The local government will
face a choice: Should they let ‘traditional’ structures fade away and replaced by ‘modern’
structure or should they protect the architectural fabric of the area? This choice will be vital
for the preservation of the spatial image of the area.
• 4.1.3. More Tourists (Foreigners)
• It is highly likely that due to the new investments in the town such as cable cars connecting
Big Mountain and Small Mountain, and due to more ad campaigns for tourists and especially
for foreigners, there will be more tourists and especially foreign tourists visiting the town.
The challenge is whether the town has sufficient physical and social infrastructure to
immerse them all.
7/10/2011 23

• 4.1.4. Ownership Structure (Monopolizing the Beaches)
• Some parts of the town have been turned into gated communities by private
beaches. Should this trend be stopped or continued to attract wealthier visitors?
This is another dilemma faced by the local government.
• 4.1.5. Touristic Activity Planning
• One point that would make the town attractive would be to find some activities
that may be interesting for tourists. One option is turning the town into a fishing
village where the tourists can learn how to sail, fish, cook fish, identify different
kind of fish etc. The city can also use the theme of piracy to attract more tourists
by theme parks, museums and restaurants. In that sense, the ferry station is quite
ordinary. Based on the image model of the town, a fisherman or a pirate or a
mermaid sculpture can welcome visitors.
• 4.1.6. The Gravity of the City Center vs. the Front Beach (Park)
• The front beach (park) located next to the ferry station is the main public
space, while the town center is in the inner areas. One point to consider is how
would this serve as an advantage or disadvantage for the town planning in the
future, as the population and number of visitors would expand.

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• 4.1.7. Class-structured Multiple City Centers and Public Spaces
• While the marine gateway area continues to serve as the main public space for all
walks of life, the center is shifting to the private beaches and plaza area for people
of higher SES. The future implications of this differentiation need to be considered.
• 4.1.8. Competition with Domestic Destinations (Mui Ne, Nha Trang etc.) as well
as International Destinations (e.g. Thailand)
• If Vung Tau wants to attract more visitors, the competing destinations should be
studied to find out how and why they attract tourists.
• 4.1.9. Strengthening the Sense of Community for Vung Tau Residents
• The sense of community is vital for the town, as residents who have the sense of
community would keep it clean and tidy.
• 4.1.10. Constructing an Identity for Vung Tau: Fishing City and Art City
• To build a distinct identity for the town, fishing city model and art city model can
be considered. A few fine arts activities are taking place in the town. One of them
was an installation exhibition that displayed works of French and Vietnamese
artists in 2009 (Nguyen, 2009). Artists can be encouraged to exhibit or perform
their works, to follow an art city model.

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4.1.11. More Activities Other than
Shopping
• Visitors can shop in any city, but there are some activities that can be done only in
one particular locality. The local government should find out which ones they are
for Vung Tau. One way for ‘distinctive activity services’ is international festivals.
• Vung Tau Food and Wine Festival that took place on 21-25 July 2010 is a good
example of this. More than 80 countries and territories and 63 provinces of
Vietnam were represented in the festival (TNN, 2010a). Over 400,000 visitors were
estimated to visit the festival (TNN, 2010b). This number is huge, if we consider
the fact that Vung Tau’s population is 250,000.
• Another good example is the International Kite Festival that took place on 25-29
March 2009 and 2010 (Kim, 2009; Long, 2010b; Nga, 2009). The first festival was
the first of its kind in Vietnam. 20,000 tourists attended the event in which 300
kites of 115 artisans from 17 nations and territories were “on the air” (Nga, 2009).
Nearly 104 artisans from 24 countries joined the second festival and there were
around 40,000 spectators (Long, 2010b). Flute kite which is a kite that can produce
music while flying is a peculiarity of Vietnam (VNS, 2010), and this can be
promoted in Vung Tau festivals.

7/10/2011 26

4.1.11. More Activities Other than
Shopping
• A third good example is the tourism festival which was opened by fires of
200-years-old cannons in the town in 2007 (TNN, 2007). An earlier
attempt in this direction was Sea Festival 2006 which had activities such
as parachuting, canoeing, kite flying etc. It was estimated to attract
200,000 visitors (TNN, 2006). The town also hosted World Youth Chess
Championship in 2008 (Phuong, 2008) which is a good way for promotion.
In addition to these, one project that can make Vung Tau culturally
attractive would be to organize a festival of ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ which would contribute to intercultural
understanding of the world cultures. The list of masterpieces is available
on UNESCO website (UNESCO, 2010). Another market segment to be
targeted may be conference tourism. Vung Tau can be a good destination
for international conferences. Medical tourism could have been an
option, as it was initiated by a medical company in Vung Tau in 2007 (Minh
& Toan, 2007); but given the current level of medicine in the country in a
comparative perspective, it is not a viable option, although it may still
attract some domestic medical tourists.

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4.2. Green and Blue Planning of Vung
Tau for Sustainability
• The city view shows that green areas are
limited except the mountains.
• Urban agriculture policies such as vertical
agriculture and rooftop agriculture can be
considered.
• As the future expansion would put more
pressure on the coasts, the future challenges
should be identified and addressed.

7/10/2011 28

Problems caused by Coastal Tourism
• P1) “Pollution by waste water, garbage, heating, noise and traffic emissions”;
• P2) “Encroachment of buildings, facilities and roads close to the coastline”;
• P3) “Beach erosion due to building, dune removal and dredging”;
• P4) “Excessive use of natural areas”;
• P5) “Destruction of natural areas to accommodate tourism or other needs”;
• P6) “Inter-sectorial competition and conflict over (marine and terrestrial) space”;
• P7) “Exclusion of local communities from any role of significance in decision-
making”;
• P8) “The loss of natural and architectural heritage in the face of rapid expansion”;
• P9) “Strain on public utilities and facilities”;
• P10) “Displacement of local population”;
• P11) “Creation of restricted exclusive zones that are off-limits to the local people”;
• P12) “Loss of business by local enterprises as all-inclusive resorts supplies all the
needs of their guests” (UNCSD NGO, 1999, p.13).

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Recommendations by
UNCSD NGO (1999)
• “- Strict environmental standards for solid, liquid and gaseous waste
emissions;
• - Taking the integrity of coastal values and resources into account;
• - Enhancement of public transport infrastructure
(train, boat, bike, bus);
• - Locally adapted styles and maximum height/size limit for facilities;
• - Setting of local/regional carrying capacities on a case-by-case
basis;
• - Limits to sale of property to foreigners;
• - Maintenance of public access to the coastal strip;
• - Safeguarding cultural values and customary uses” (p.13).

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Instruments to Solve the Problems
• EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)
• - Introducing environmental management (according to
ISO 14.000 or the European EMAS Initiative);
• - Increasing cultural and nature awareness of guests
through interactions with local initiatives, guided
nature walks, museums, etc.;
• - Integrating the local economy by giving priority to
local produce (e.g. fish, fruit, vegetables,
• furniture, and building materials)”
• (UNCSD NGO, 1999, p.14).

7/10/2011 31

Questions for the Future of Vung Tau
• Q1) What are the assets and risks of Vung Tau
as a tourism destination?
• SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat
s) analysis and other forecasting tools can be
used to answer this question.

7/10/2011 32

• Q2) What is the carrying capacity of the town and how this
capacity can be integrated with land use planning?
• One significant part of this carrying capacity is waste
management. ICLEI (1999) states that “*t+ourism in natural
areas, euphemistically called “eco-tourism,” can be a major
source of degradation of local ecological, economic and
social systems. The intrusion of large numbers of
• foreigners with high-consumption and high-waste habits
into natural areas, or into towns with inadequate waste
management infrastructure, can produce changes to those
natural areas at a rate that is far greater than imposed by
local residents” (p.4).

7/10/2011 33

• Q2) What is the carrying capacity of the town and how
this capacity can be integrated with land use planning?
• In that sense, waste-related planning tasks for the town
are the identification of current amount and rate of
waste; current waste management practices (3R:
Reduce-Reuse-Recycle); the rate of waste in peak
season; an inspection of the current status of industrial
waste management and coastal waste management;
the forecasting of waste for the future; establishment
of wastewater and solid waste facilities; installation of
separate bins for waste materials; introduction of
Product Life Cycle Analysis for the touristic enterprises
and industries etc.
7/10/2011 34

• Q2) What is the carrying capacity of the town and how this capacity can be
integrated with land use planning?
• Wastewater management is especially critical: Dinh River (Song Dinh)
which flows to the sea at the border of Vung Tau and neighboring Ba Ria is
polluted due to industrial activity. Fish and shrimps are dying. The
identified reason is the wastewater from seafood processing factories
(TNN, 2008b). 3 seafood processors have been suspended in 2009 for
discharging toxic wastewater without treatment (Long, 2009a).
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones violating the environmental
regulations in the vicinity; there are many others. In the same year,
another company was found to discharge hundred thousand liters of
wastewater per day into Dinh River by secret underground pipes (Long,
2009b). Consumption due to touristic activity in Vung Tau as well as urban
demand in nearby Ho Chi Minh City which has the highest population of
the country are driving up the production of seafood and other food
items.

7/10/2011 35

• Q3) How to develop a system of EIA for the existing and new projects?
• This is important for promotion of green practices in tourism sector. The
hotels and resorts can be asked to submit their waste management plans
and energy saving practices among some other aspects.
• This is also relevant to the oil extraction and fishing-related industries. A
disaster like BP oil disaster of Mexico Gulf (2010) would be very
unfortunate. The standards can be upgraded if they are outdated. On the
other hand, these efforts have to be integrated with the Strategic
Environmental Assessment of the town, region and the country.
• This caution is not unrealistic: As a result of a tanker accident, nearly 400
tons of oil spilled into the sea in Vung Tau in 2010 (Long, 2010c). In an
earlier case, oil spill with an unidentified source was found to kill the
shrimps being bred at sea in the town (Long, 2007). In 2008, a tanker was
capsized with a load of 1,700 tons of oil (Long, 2008; TNN, 2008c). The
nature will not have the capacity for more disasters like this.

7/10/2011 36

• Q4) What are tourist numbers for the
town, when is the peak season and how
tourist numbers can be managed for
sustainability?
• This information is necessary for strategic
planning.
•

7/10/2011 37

• Q5) How can accessibility (by land, sea and air) be improved?
• Currently, the main modes of transport from Ho Chi Minh City to
Vung Tau are by bus or by hydrofoil. As of 2010, hydrofoil ticket is
10 USD (one-way). Bus is cheaper, but takes longer.
• More transportation options can be considered.
• Secondly, the sea route from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau is
mangrove area. The view and the natural atmosphere are
impressive. A tour can be started for ecotourism that would spend
some time in mangrove areas and stop at Vung Tau as the final
destination. The revenue can be used to protect the area and plant
more mangroves. As the marine route will be used for this purpose
and not the land route, the environmental impact will be lower.

7/10/2011 38

• Q6) Which green and blue areas need protection? Do we need special
zoning policies for them?
• A detailed analysis is necessary. The biodiversity of the green and blue
areas should be determined by ecological research. For example,
• which plant species, bird species, mammals etc live in green areas and
which fish species live in blue areas?
• Are there endemic species and species under threat?
• How are the urban development and biodiversity in the town related?
• What are the urban threats to biodiversity in the town?
• These questions should be answered for biodiversity conservation as a
step towards sustainable development of the town. Another ecological
issue to be considered is the expected effects of climate change. As Vung
Tau is a coastal town with strong tides, climate change may lead to huge
losses in the future, if necessary measures would not be taken.

7/10/2011 39

• Q7) How can environmental impacts of tourism
be monitored by sustainability indicators in terms
of economic, social an ecological sustainability?
Which indicators can be used for that purpose?
• Various internationally recognized standards can
be used for that purpose. These standards and
indicators can be discussed in a separate paper.

7/10/2011 40

• Q8) How can different departments of
government and other stakeholders can be
coordinated for sustainable tourism?
• To answer this question, stakeholder analysis
is necessary.
•

7/10/2011 41

• Q9) In what forms could local capacity
building activities take place? How can a
public participation framework for sustainable
tourism be implemented?
• These will be based on the picture drawn by
the stakeholder analysis.
•

7/10/2011 42

• Q10) How can tourists be informed about eco-
friendly practices?
• Information leaflets at ferry station, bus
station, hotels and touristic agencies can be
useful.
• A website can be established for ‘Green Vung
Tau’.

7/10/2011 43

• Q11) How can eco-efficient and eco-friendly
practices be enforced for touristic enterprises?
• The best practices from different parts of the
world and Southeast Asian region can be
compiled and selectively applied.
• This needs a literature review in a separate
paper.

7/10/2011 44

• Q12) How can hinterland development and coastal development be integrated in a
form of tourism master plan or strategic plan?
• It may be necessary to propose other dimensions of sustainability to answer this
question: Allen (2009) adds physical and political sustainability onto the well-
known sustainability triangle, ie economic, social, and ecological (environmental)
sustainability.
• She states that “*t+he sustainability of the built environment concerns the capacity
of an intervention to enhance the liveability of buildings and urban infrastructures
for ‘all’ city dwellers without damaging or disrupting the urban region
environment. It also includes a concern for the efficiency of the built environment
to support the local economy” (p.2).
• Although this form of sustainability is not always discussed, it is obvious that it
concerns heritage issues, relocation and urban upgrading projects which involve
destruction and/or renovation of the building stock of the cities. Secondly, political
sustainability involves governance and public participation which are critical for
integration of hinterland and coastal development.

7/10/2011 45

• Q12) How can hinterland development and coastal development be
integrated in a form of tourism master plan or strategic plan?
• These two forms of sustainability should be taken into account for
integrative frameworks of planning, along with the very-well known
sustainability triangle.
• In this context, ICLEI (2001) states that “*p+rivate property titles do
not recognise the concepts of ecological integrity or social heritage.
Excessive reliance upon private property ownership as a guide in
development has in fact contributed to the deterioration of public
goods” (p.4).
• This remark is very important for the integration of hinterland
development and coastal development. Provision of public goods
such as access to beaches and coasts should be secured.

7/10/2011 46

5. Conclusions and Recommendations
• Due to space limitations, only a portion of the findings
of the fieldwork and site visits is presented in this
paper. (The interested can contact the researcher for
more information.)
• As a result, not all the questions raised under the
section of Research Questions have been answered in
this paper, although they will be answered elsewhere.
• Nevertheless, even without the full-fledged availability
of the findings, the following conclusions and
recommendations can be listed to conclude the paper:

7/10/2011 47

• - For sustainability assessment, baseline data on various
aspects of sustainability such as social, economical and
ecological carrying capacities, the number of visitors, waste
etc. should be collected; and these data should be easily
accessible by the planning professionals.
• - Oil spills are significant threats for the urban ecology.
More regulations are necessary for the tankers and oil
industry.
• - An urban ecology survey is necessary which will identify
the species of the town.
• - Polluting industries in the nearby rivers which flow to
Vung Tau beaches should be suspended and severely
punished.

7/10/2011 48

• - Factories and tourism enterprises should submit their
wastewater and solid waste treatment plans as part
of the licensing and permit procedure.
• - More cultural and art events can be promoted; but
the carrying capacities should be kept in mind.
• - A special plan is necessary for coastal zones which
would take into account the future urban expansion
and climate-change-related events.
• - A participatory planning framework should be
adopted that would not exclude any stakeholder.
• - More international expert input is necessary to draw
on good practices elsewhere.
7/10/2011 49

Vung Tau: Spatial Identity Formation, Tourism and Sustainable Development At A Peninsular Town

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