Cua Lo attracts tourists on hot days.

(Baonghean) - During peak hot days, Cua Lo beach has become a "cooling spot" for tens of thousands of people from within and outside the province. The beaches are packed with people, and service kiosks are operating at full capacity. To maintain the Cua Lo tourism brand, the coastal town is implementing many measures to ensure the safety of tourists as well as build a friendly and hospitable tourism environment…

Heading to Cua Lo to escape the heat.

On a weekend afternoon, the road from Vinh Airport to Nghe An – Xieng Khouang becomes congested with long lines of cars slowly making their way towards the sea. On Binh Minh road, many drivers sweat profusely just to find a parking spot. Down on the beach, thousands of people are happily playing in the waves. On shore, children enjoy games like kite flying and building sandcastles; young people enthusiastically play beach soccer or volleyball, their cheers blending with the sound of the waves, creating a vibrant atmosphere...

Cua Lo beach is packed with tourists on hot days.

Among the tens of thousands of tourists who have visited Cua Lo beach in recent days, a large number are overnight guests and visitors from other localities. The majority are from the northern provinces. Everyone enjoys relaxing moments, fully appreciating the natural beauty bestowed upon this peaceful and genuine land of Nghe An province. Ms. Le Thu Huyen, a tourist from Nam Dinh City (Nam Dinh province), shared: “Before coming to Cua Lo, I had traveled to northern beaches such as Bai Chay (Quang Ninh), Do Son (Hai Phong), and Sam Son (Thanh Hoa).”

Although I had researched the area beforehand, I was still amazed by Cua Lo's poetic and romantic beauty upon arrival. Especially noteworthy is the fact that despite the crowds, there was no price gouging or exploitation of tourists.” Mr. Nguyen Dinh Can, an employee of an import-export company in Hanoi, shared: “Every year, the company's leadership arranges a 3-4 day trip for employees, and this year, Cua Lo was the destination. Luckily, we went during peak season, so the atmosphere was lively and bustling day and night. I joined thousands of tourists in frolicking in the cool sea water and enjoying delicious fresh seafood prepared in various ways. At night, we took a stroll on electric carts or participated in refreshing and fun beach games.”

Tourists explore the seaside town by electric vehicle.

While Cua Lo is a popular summer vacation destination for tourists from other provinces or Vinh City, it's also an ideal spot for many coastal farmers during hot weather. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao, from Nghi Trung commune, Nghi Loc district, said that her house isn't too far from the beach, and because of the sweltering weather, she and her family often ride their motorbikes to Cua Lo after working in the fields in the afternoons. Even though they only swim in the sea and then rinse off with fresh water before returning home, the staff at the stalls are very welcoming and polite, showing no discrimination towards customers who stay to eat seafood at the stalls. "In my village, almost everyone rides their motorbikes down to the beach at the end of the day to swim and then return home. That's how we cool off on hot days," Ms. Thao shared.

“Unlike beaches such as Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay, and Mui Ne, which seem to be exclusively for tourists, Cua Lo offers many attractions where everyone is sociable on the beach. There are VIP groups, tourists from other provinces, student groups, schoolchildren cycling to the beach, and even farmers coming to swim at the end of the day. Everyone can immerse themselves in the sea, the cool, fresh air, and the festive atmosphere to relieve the heat and fatigue from the harsh weather. This is also a unique beauty of Cua Lo that no other beach has,” said Phan Anh Tuan, a tourist from Hanoi.

Preserving the Cua Lo tourism brand.

To attract tourists, the town is currently implementing the "5 No's" policy decisively and comprehensively, managing all types of services effectively. Hotline numbers are widely publicized at kiosks, ready to receive and process information from tourists; restaurants and hotels also display prices... Regarding electric vehicles, since the beginning of this year, the town has made many adjustments to the operation of this service. According to Mr. Phan Cong Doi – Head of the Urban Management Department of the town, there are currently 473 electric vehicles operating in the town, and thanks to the involvement of functional forces, the situation of competing for customers, illegal parking, or drivers acting as "brokers" leading customers to untrustworthy seafood kiosks to pocket the difference in price no longer exists...

Cua Lo is also striving to ensure absolute safety for tourists while swimming at the beach. During this tourist season, in the bathing areas of the town, there is no longer the situation of jet skis entering the bathing areas to solicit customers, emitting oil fumes, and causing anxiety for tourists while they are swimming. According to Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, Deputy Head of the Town's Urban Management Board, there are 3 businesses licensed to operate jet skis with about 20 vehicles. In 2015, to better manage this service, the town planned an operating zone from Road 12 to Road 16, south of Binh Minh Square, and established an inspection and management team. Since the beginning of the tourist season, the team has issued violation notices in 6 cases and temporarily seized 3 vehicles from 3 businesses. As a result, this activity is gradually becoming more orderly.

Every day, the Cua Lo Rescue, Relief, and Injury Prevention Center surveys safe swimming areas, placing buoys to mark safe boundaries. For dangerous areas where swimming is prohibited, the team also places warning signs. A loudspeaker system constantly broadcasts information to ensure safe swimming, and rescue personnel continuously monitor and are ready to respond to any incidents. The Center has also issued regulations warning about swimming, improved the system of boundary buoys and markers along the bathing areas, and installed warning signs and equipment in unsafe swimming zones. “Although authorities have repeatedly warned and reminded tourists, many are still careless, swimming too far from the designated warning areas, swimming late at night... For these tourists, we have to directly use canoes to remind them to ensure absolute safety. We also warn tourists that when swimming, they should follow the instructions of the authorities and should not take too many risks,” said Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh.

According to estimates by the People's Committee of Cua Lo Town, in May 2015 alone, the town welcomed over 640,000 visitors, a 38.4% increase compared to May 2014, of which over 320,000 were overnight guests. The total number of visitors in the first five months of the year was 842,000, reaching 34.6% of the annual plan, a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2014. Of these, 561,000 were overnight guests. Revenue from tourism services is estimated at 557 billion VND, a 15.2% increase compared to the same period last year. This is truly a positive sign for the Cua Lo beach tourism season, demonstrating the strong appeal of this land steeped in history and legends, a land of friendliness and hospitality that is gradually transforming into a leading coastal tourist city in the country.

Minh Quan