Cua Lo: A spectrum of sensations

(Baonghean) - He is a foreign affairs officer from Laos, frequently traveling to Vietnam and Nghe An in particular for official business. For him, Cua Lo always holds a strange and captivating charm…

"You know, our country, Laos, doesn't have a coastline. Going to the beach is always appealing to us. When we have the opportunity to travel, we immediately think of going to Vietnam to swim in the sea. Cua Lo is usually our first choice."

My family and I have visited Vung Ang beach (Ha Tinh) a couple of times, but we truly love the lively and bustling atmosphere of Cua Lo. The diverse beaches in Cua Lo offer visitors a variety of experiences. Lan Chau beach has the freshness of new hotels and service projects that have recently opened or are under construction; the Giua beach (Thu Thuy) is where we can immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of interaction, learning, and making friends with many Vietnamese tourists from different regions; Cua Hoi beach is quite attractive, especially when we occasionally take an electric car ride from the town center to swim in the relatively unspoiled scenery and enjoy seafood in a more rustic way.

I studied in Vietnam and understand some basic aspects of Vietnamese culture. However, as you know, many customs, preferences, and cultural identities of our Lao ethnic groups differ significantly from your fundamental Vietnamese culture. I always try to attend the annual Cua Lo River Festival. I find the organization and program of the festival very appealing because it showcases the unique local culture. Especially the traditional boat race and the introduction and provision of services for visiting nearby cultural and historical sites. It's encouraging that the festival truly attracts tourists, even though finding accommodation and services in Cua Lo during this time can be somewhat difficult. As we Lao people believe, a successful festival means a successful "season"...

Sea procession at the Song Ngu Temple Festival. Photo: Sy Minh

I spoke with an official from the Cua Lo Town People's Committee about the Cua Lo River Festival in 2005, which marked the opening of Vietnam's tourism year in Nghe An. Following this, many Vietnamese newspapers reported on the high prices and poor service at some beach kiosks in Cua Lo. Cua Lo was significantly affected throughout the entire tourist season and into the beginning of the following year, with a decline in visitor numbers. However, such instances of price gouging were isolated cases! When I said that, as a frequent visitor to Cua Lo and a lover of Cua Lo beach, I hoped such unfortunate situations would not happen again, he assured me that the effective implementation of the "5 No's" (no overcharging, no bribery, no corruption, no bribery) over the years in Cua Lo ensured that such incidents would not occur again!

I would also like to add that we Laotians love folk arts and enjoy organizing dance parties anywhere, such as the Lam Vong dance; currently, I know that the number of Laotian tourists visiting Cua Lo beach is not quantifiable, and it doesn't yet represent a significant demand for recreational services here. However, I wish you had some small spaces with performers showcasing your folk songs and dances to attract tourists to participate. Furthermore, at night, my wife and children sometimes want to go shopping for valuable items or play modern video games… and I have to ask my close friends in Vietnam for recommendations, suggesting that we go to Vinh City to find such places…”

Mr. Vu(Take note)