Khang Thong Group, investor of the Happyland Entertainment Complex project in southern Long An Province\'s Ben Luc District, began work yesterday on the country\'s largest studio.

The Happyland Studios, with a total investment capital of USD400 million, is an important part of the USD2 billion Happyland Entertainment Complex project, which started construction in February.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Huynh Vinh Ai, deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the ministry had listed the Happyland project as a major tourism area in the country\'s tourism master plan to be submitted to the Government for approval.

In the context of the ongoing financial crisis and economic slowdown, the international-scale Happyland project was a bright spot that would attract tourists and investors, contributing to the country\'s cultural and economic development, Ai said.

Apart from producing films, television programmes and music performances, the studios, built to international standards, will introduce to visitors the historical landmarks in the movie history, special effect techniques that have been used, and games for all ages.

It is expected to be completed in 2014.

The 338ha Happyland Entertainment Complex project expects to attract 14 million visitors every year.

The group also signed investment co-operation agreements with four foreign parties on yesterday. These included a USD2 million contract with the US-based Hill International on Happyland Flyover Bridge project and a USD11 million contract with Thailand\'s STFE Group on a power station project.