The remote rural province of Ninh Thuan in central Vietnam, home to the country’s largest sheep farms, is trying to shed its reputation as a backwoods Podunk and transform itself into a tourist attraction.

In line with these aims, the province held a tourism development conference during its Hidden Colors Festival this Sunday.

“Hidden Colors” is an appropriate title because the provinces “colors” are truly hidden as tourists in the region often surpass the locality altogether on their way to the Vietnams’ most popular beach resort, Nha Trang, in the neighboring Khanh Hoa province to the north.

Ninh Thuan’s tourism attractions attract neither domestic nor foreign tourists as the quality of sites and their image promotion are both low, said Do Huu Nghi, Vice chairman of  Ninh Thuan People’s Committee (local government).

Delegates at the conference decided the best means towards stronger tourism would be to cooperate with other localities.

As such, Ninh Thuan made deals with eight other cities and provinces – Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh city – to help improve Ninh Thuan’s tourist industry.

Thirty-five tourist agencies from six central provinces, as well as several southern representatives, participated in the conference.

The Hidden Colors Festival, which aims to boost interest in the province’s tourism potential, began August 15 and ends tomorrow.

The festival included musical performances, trade and food fairs, a vintage wine festival, a volleyball competition, a dragon boat race, motorbike racing and a sheep beauty pageant.

Reported by Dang Ngoc Khoa - Translated by Ngoc Anh (Vietnam Last news-Thanh Nien Daily)