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After the success of the second Hong Kong – Nha Trang international yacht race, together with the construction of a marina for yachts at Phu Quy eco-tourism site, Nha Trang is becoming an attractive destination for international yacht races.

The international yacht race from Hong Kong to Nha Trang bay, one of the 29 best bays of the world, held in early November attracted the participation of 11 teams and 130 athletes.

The athletes were tourists and businessmen form Australia, New Zealand, Britain, the Philippines, Canada, China, the United States, Belgium, Norway, France and Vietnam.

The yachts, kicking off in Hong Kong, arrived in Vinpearl beach after four days floating on the sea. The race made much impression on tourists with good service and warm welcome by organisers.

“The race with 1,000 kilometres on the sea is a challenge of bravery, strength and patience,” said Huynh Buu Quang, financial service director of HSBC.

“This kind of sports is successful businessmen’s favourite. They had the same comment that the beach city of Nha Trang had sufficient conditions to become a destination of international yacht racers and a favourable stop of North-eastern Asia – South-eastern Asia yachts,” said Le Hong Minh, director of Vinagame, who was one of three Vietnamese people joining the race.

Mark Wilson, general director of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, said Nha Trang is on the sea route of Southeast Asia. People there are friendly. The wind favours races from Hong Kong.

Wilson says Nha Trang has lovely beaches and great hospitality and so it would be able to become part of a sailing circuit that can link with Bali of Indonesia and Phuket of Thailand.

Wilson says the club plans to continue organising the race from Hong Kong to Nha Trang every two years. Yet, he says it is a problem for yachtsmen to find a marina to anchor boats in Nha Trang at the moment. “Nha Trang should complete the marina for yachts parking instead of parking in various places at present,” he advised.

The good news for all is that a new marina is planned at Phu Quy, the country’s first significant waterfront living community, in Nha Trang.

The developer, An Vien Joint Stock Company, which hosted the welcome party for Hong Kong-Nha Trang race last week, have announced there will be a one kilometre-pier system for mooring boats and yachts.

The planned marina will not only accommodate future international yacht races but also cater for the residents at the Phu Quy, who are purchasing land here to build luxury villas, hotels and entertainment facilities.

The marina lies in the Phu Quy resort on 72 hectares with infrastructure investment of US $20 million.

In the near future, the beach city of Nha Trang, with Phu Quy resort and the marina, is expected to become an attractive, modern and luxurious destination of sea eco-tourism of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.