Coastal areas and islands across Vietnam are becoming a magnet fordomestic tourists as they not only offer ideal destinations in summerbut also arouse their love for the country’s sea and island sovereignty.

TheVietravel company’s Hanoi branch reported that as of the beginning ofJune, the number of domestic tourists booking domestic tours climbed 170percent from a year earlier.

Some of their favouritedestinations are central coastal Da Nang, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon cities,and southern Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands.

Apart from suchtraditional destinations as Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba, My Khe, Nha Trang, andPhu Quoc, visitors also flocked to northern Co To and Quan Lan islands,central Son Tra peninsular and Ninh Chu beach, among others.

Other travel agencies also saw a surge in the sales of tours to the sea.

NewstatourDirector Luong Duy Ngan said since the beginning of this summer, hisfirm has served nearly 7,000 tourists, most them make their holidays inlittoral areas and islands.

This year, the company gives their priorities to tours to islands like Co To, Thanh Lam and Bach Long Vi, he added.

Owning a coastline of over 3,000 km, Vietnam has a sea area of more than 1 million sq.km. with some 3,000 islands.

Sucha geographic feature offers a great potential in sea and islandtourism, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho AnhTuan at a press conference launching the national tourism promotioncampaign on July 9.-VNA