Previous and ongoing Knowledge Immersion Projects

4. Hoa Binh Province Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (ongoing)

About the host

ADB's Viet Nam Resident Mission is supporting the Government of Viet Nam's thnrough the Hoa Binh Province Tourism Infrastructure Development Project. The project will upgrade climate resilient transport infrastructure and develop digitally enabled tourism services to attract quality tourism investment in Hoa Binh province. Project will have the following impacts: inclusive and more balanced tourism development that contributes to the socioeconomic development of Hoa Binh province. The outcome will be enabling environment for quality tourism investment strengthened in Hoa Binh province. There are two outputs: (i) transport infrastructure made resilient, and (ii) digitally enabled tourism services developed.

Output 1. Transport infrastructure made resilient (to be financed by ADB loan). This output will expand and rehabilitate the existing rural roads around the Hoa Binh reservoir to improve access to tourism

destinations and open new areas for tourism development. Improved access will boost tourist arrivals and catalyze private investment that would not occur without the proposed project investments. Upgrading to
a climate and disaster-resilient rural roads will also allow local residents to transport agricultural products to market more efficiently, access education and health services, and improve road safety. This
output will also upgrade Thung Nai port (located in Cao Phong district, 25 kilometers from Hoa Binh city) into a climate-resilient tourism port. The upgraded port will improve water transport and
recreation services on the Hoa Binh reservoir. One cross-river bridge will be built to relieve the growing traffic in Hoa Binh city and improve the connectivity with the existing northern provincial
networks.

Output 2. Digitally enabled tourism services developed (to be financed by a grant). This output will (i) develop a database of hotel and accommodation facilities and tourism activities in the project area,
explore the use of existing digital platforms, and support the digital transformation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in upgrading digital technology, (ii) identify appropriate digital
technology options for MSMEs; (iii) assist MSMEs to procure digital systems to boost their competitiveness; and (iv) provide relevant training and capacity building for the MSMEs, including
developing a destination management plan with strong continuous involvement of the communities, dispersing tourism regionally and seasonally. This output will also equip and train ethnic minority
entrepreneurs, including ethnic women, to market tourism services using online digital platforms.

About the expert

An International Tourism Digitalization Specialist has been physically deployed to Ha Noi and Hoa Binh, Viet Nam to support ADB Vietnam

Resident Mission to design Output 2 of the Project. S/he will be supported by a national consultant who will provide research inputs, technical translation and assist with interviews of local interlocutors.

Specific tasks include:

(i) Assess the level of digital readiness among tourism MSMEs as well as their support structures (such as public sector agencies, industry associations, others) in Hoa Binh province.

(ii) Assess whether the regulatory framework is conducive for introducing digital solutions (e.g. requirements for paper based receipts by tax authorities or permits for site access);

(iii) Review digital solutions that have demonstrated value in the tourism industry (in Viet Nam and beyond) and identify appropriate and context aware digital solutions to support the digitization and digital transformation of tourism MSMEs in Hoa Binh province. These may include digital solutions such

as property management systems, point of sale (POS) systems, tour booking and payment systems, information portals on local attractions and tourist facilities, smart systems to promote resource savings, technologies to improve mobile connectivity, and more.

(iv) Engage with national and international online platforms (travel, hospitality, leisure, etc.) to conceptualize potential collaboration with these platforms to utilize project data, place new information assets and assist the project through a partnership arrangement, boosting MSME participation and capacity development. (v) In collaboration with the national specialist (parallel recruitment), prepare a list of digital solutions that could be offered under the grant or by Hoa Binh province, considering the suitability and commercial sustainability of such solutions beyond the grant period.

(vi) Assist ADB Vietnam Resident Mission project team in preparation of grant proposals (e.g. technical specifications, market research, etc.).