Cua Lo charges for showering: A small step towards professional tourism.

The new shower system is officially operational.

In late April, Cua Lo beach became bustling as tens of thousands of tourists flocked there for their 2026 beach tourism season. Along the beach, new public shower facilities have been completed, giving the area a more modern and attractive appearance.

In fact, from mid-April 2026, due to the surge in visitors caused by the hot weather, some shower facilities that were completed earlier were put into use to serve the public.

This is a system developed through a socialized investment model, with contributions from many businesses and organizations, on a larger scale and with a more integrated design compared to 2025. Each location has an area of ​​approximately 1,000m².²With a total project investment of approximately 9 billion VND (an average of 600 million VND per location), the facility is fully equipped with amenities such as shower areas, changing rooms, public toilets, and a modern water supply and drainage system.

Notably, each location is equipped with 12 shower columns, each approximately 2.2m high, incorporating 4 shower heads, equivalent to 48 showers per location. In addition, each area also has about 15 changing rooms and other auxiliary facilities, meeting the needs of a large number of visitors simultaneously.

The shower facilities are scientifically planned and rationally distributed along the length of the beach, prioritizing areas with high concentrations of tourists, ensuring convenient access without affecting the overall space.

Mr. Hoang Minh Tho, Deputy Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Planning Department of Cua Lo Ward, said that the investment in the new system not only aims to replace the old facilities damaged after the 2025 storms, but also to improve the quality of tourism services in a professional and sustainable manner. Investing in a new, modern shower system to replace the old, damaged one will help Cua Lo improve the quality of tourism services according to the criteria of civility, friendliness, and professionalism.

Previously, during the 2025 tourist season, the first year Cua Lo officially merged with the former Vinh City, the locality introduced free shower facilities for the first time. This was considered a plus in the eyes of tourists, providing convenience after swimming in the sea. However, after one season of operation and exposure to harsh weather conditions, the old shower facilities have been damaged.

Therefore, investing in a new system is not just a fix, but a comprehensive upgrade aimed at long-term service. The shower facilities are strategically placed along the beach, making them easily accessible to visitors without having to travel far, while also contributing to the beautification of the beach area in a uniform and modern way.

Local residents also expect the new system to give the beach a more attractive appearance, reducing the clutter and unsightly conditions that previously occurred, especially during peak seasons.

Charging fees is intended to improve service and ensure transparency.

One of the notable new features in this year's tourist season is the policy of charging a fee at shower facilities, instead of offering them for free as before.

According to the management plan of the Cua Lo Ward People's Committee, the shower service will be charged no more than 10,000 VND/use, and the sanitation service no more than 5,000 VND/use. These prices are considered reasonable, suitable for the actual needs and affordability of most tourists.

According to local leaders, this is a step forward in organizing and operating services towards a more professional and controlled approach. Once the shower facilities are completed, the sponsoring unit will hand them over to the ward for management. Based on that, the ward People's Committee will organize a public auction for the right to operate and select a unit with sufficient capacity to manage them.

The winning bidder is not only permitted to provide shower facilities but also to offer a number of accompanying services as regulated, such as renting swimming floats and selling non-alcoholic beverages, in order to provide additional amenities for tourists. However, all business activities must publicly display prices, sell at the correct price, and be subject to strict inspection and supervision by the authorities.

In fact, the policy of charging fees stems from the shortcomings that occurred during the 2025 tourist season. When shower facilities were free to use, some locals and tourists lacked awareness of maintaining cleanliness, leading to many negative consequences: taps were not turned off after use, wasting water; shower heads were damaged; and waste such as shampoo and shower gel packaging was carelessly discarded, causing environmental pollution. Having a specific operating unit with clear responsibilities and rights will help maintain the quality of the facilities and ensure a clean and civilized environment.

According to the Cua Lo ward authorities, in the initial phase, the shower facilities will be directly managed and operated by the ward's Public Service Center to ensure stable operation before the bidding process is completed. This is also a cautious step, helping the locality control the quality of service right from the beginning of the tourist season.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward, said: "Currently, the locality is developing a plan for auctioning and a mechanism for managing revenue sources, after which a public and transparent auction will be held. With the new management mechanism, residents and tourists can be completely assured when using the services. We require all establishments to publicly display prices, provide services according to regulations, and prevent price gouging or arbitrary price increases. The goal is to both facilitate tourists and build a transparent and civilized tourism environment."

In reality, the 10,000 VND/use fee is not a barrier, but rather contributes to raising awareness of service usage. With a fee commitment, users will be more responsible in maintaining public hygiene, reducing littering and water waste as before.

Many tourists expressed their agreement with this policy. Mr. Le Van Tuan from Truong Vinh ward shared: “During the hot season, my family goes to Cua Lo beach almost every weekend for swimming. At a price of 10,000 VND per visit, I find it very reasonable. The important thing is that the service must be clean, convenient, and properly managed. If that is done, tourists will definitely support it.”

Along with the shower facilities, the locality is implementing many synchronized solutions such as beach beautification, environmental sanitation enhancement, infrastructure upgrades, and stricter management of prices and service attitudes. The coordinated efforts of the government, the cooperation of businesses, and the consensus of the people are key to ensuring the effectiveness of this policy, creating a new image for Cua Lo - not only attracting more tourists but also retaining them through quality service.