The northern province of Ninh Binh welcomed over 106,000 domestic andforeign visitors from April 30 to May 4, a year-on-year increase of 10percent.

The tourism sector grossed 114 billion VND (5.4million USD) in April and the first week of May, according to theprovincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Thisyear, national Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) werejoined with the weekend to make up a five-day holiday.

Thestunning Trang An ecotourism complex, which is dubbed as Vietnam’s‘Inland Ha Long Bay’, together with the former royal capital of Hoa Lu,the Phat Diem stone cathedral, and the Bai Dinh pagoda - a cluster ofBuddhist architectural structures, are among the most populardestinations.

Covering an area of nearly 2,000 hectares, theTrang An scenic landscape site is scattered with karst topography suchas limestone mountains, caves and lakes. It is seeking the UNESCOrecognition as world natural heritage.

Theprovince is also gearing for the 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak (theday of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death) which will begin atthe spiritual tourism complex of the Bai Dinh pagoda on May 7-11.

The event, the second of its kind hosted in Vietnam, is expected towelcome about 5,000 guests, including 1,500 from 95 countries andterritories abroad.

The Vesak observation in Hanoi in 2008 drew over 600 Buddhist delegations across the globe.-VNA