People will get free wi-fi Internet access at governmental offices, public places and tourism destinations in the northern province of Bac Ninh from December 31.

This is part of a project passed by the provincial People's Committee on June 11 to have wi-fi in the province.

The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) will invest nearly 10 billion VND (over 476,000 USD) in building technological infrastructure and installing equipment as well as providing training courses for staff and managing the project in the province.

The committee also said it would support 150 million VND (over 7,000 USD) per month to maintain the service for five years.

According to the project, there will be 50 spots covered with wi-fi, including 16 outdoors places with free signals. At the remaining places, users will get cards to access the Internet.

Those who access government and provincial portals in the area covered with wi-fi will get it free.

VNPT Bac Ninh will give 600 free accounts to access the Internet with cards worth from 100,000 VND (4.76 USD) to 300,000 VND (14.28 USD) per month for some agencies and tourist groups to enhance information technology applications and boost tourism. Bac Ninh is expected to be the sixth tourism destination in Vietnam providing free wi-fi, after Hoi An, Da Nang , Hue , Ha Long and Tam Dao.-VNA