To awaken the potential of Nam Dan

Kim Lien National Special Historical Site - the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Nguyen Sach

Every year, Nam Dan welcomes millions of Vietnamese people from both within and outside the country.pilgrimage to visit historical sitesIt's a source of joy and pride, and also an opportunity. However, those concerned with tourism development can't help but feel anxious about the daily statistics.

The number of visitors seems to equal the number of visitors who leave. The journey to Kim Lien remains limited to Hoang Tru, the maternal hometown, and Lang Sen, the paternal hometown. A few small-scale stops or shops selling local products are certainly not enough to captivate travelers. Many development strategists have argued that the tourism resources here are primarily in their potential, and frankly, are being wasted.

Tourists visiting President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. Photo courtesy of Huy Thu.

Of course, the fault never lies with the customers. It's our failure to create a reason for them to stay. We know there are shortcomings, but what exactly is lacking and where to begin addressing them has been a lingering question for years. The daily changes in our "common homeland" are undeniable. Roads are well-maintained, villages are clean, and public facilities are becoming more numerous. The rural development program here is transforming the area day by day. Pilgrims have also begun to seek out destinations like...Chung Son Temple,Dai Tue PagodaAdmiring the vast lotus fields and savoring the delicious specialties of Nam Dan are all noteworthy, but they are not enough, not commensurate with the advantages and enduring value of the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh.

Dai Tue Pagoda is located on Dai Hue Mountain in Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district. (Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong)

Nam Dan needs to transform its unique advantages into exceptional potential, and that exceptional potential into exceptional achievements.

We talk a lot about breakthroughs, but every time we try to achieve one, we encounter inertia. The word "breakthrough" remains easily forgotten in resolutions. The Nam Dan District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term identified three breakthrough areas, focusing on infrastructure development linked to attracting investment and effectively utilizing all resources in society to create a breakthrough in building a synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure system. The focus is on developing connecting transportation infrastructure, urban infrastructure, cultural infrastructure, and tourism infrastructure. The resolution has already made this clear. Developing President Ho Chi Minh's hometown into a model destination, a must-see for every journey, is not only the aspiration and responsibility of the people of Nam Dan but also of the entire nation.

The New Rural Development movement has created a new, modern and attractive appearance in Nam Anh commune (Nam Dan district). (Photo: Thanh Le)

Nam Dan lacks major catalysts to create distinctive landmarks; Nam Dan needs and deserves them. It is understood that the Provincial Party Standing Committee has approved the investment plan for a Cultural Tourism Area project within the "National Special Historical Site of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area," and is also considering the idea of ​​constructing such a project.The nine-tiered waterfall structure at the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi LoanThe first project will be implemented in Kim Lien commune, covering an area of ​​435,677 square meters.², including landscaped green areas; commercial and service land; cultural center land; tourism service land; agricultural experimentation and conservation land, and general transportation...

The second project is a nine-tiered waterfall built on Tranh Cave Mountain, part of the Dai Hue mountain range. This project has been highly praised by experts for its significance and aesthetic value. It was proposed by the T&T Group and recently submitted to the relevant authorities for approval. It is part of the project under the Plan for Conservation, Restoration, and Promotion of the Value of the Special National Monument of President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Kim Lien Commune, Nam Dan District, which was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1943/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2020.

A perspective view of the 9-tiered waterfall design. (Illustrative image)

Our tourism sector has strengths but lacks a focal point. For a long time, we had plans, but not only did we lack vision and skills, but we were also weak in attracting and promoting investment for tourism development. Therefore, the proposal by T&T Group to invest in several items considered as focal points within the project under the Plan for the Preservation, Restoration, and Promotion of the Value of the Special National Monument of President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Kim Lien Commune, Nam Dan District, which was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1943/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2020, is one of the clear manifestations of the positive results in promoting and attracting investment for tourism development in Nghe An province for the long term.

We believe that, in the future, the sound policies and strategic vision recently approved by the Provincial Party Standing Committee, along with the aforementioned landmark projects, will contribute to unlocking the potential to make President Ho Chi Minh's homeland increasingly prosperous and beautiful. This is both a practical fulfillment of President Ho Chi Minh's cherished wish and a realization of the hopes and expectations of people from all regions towards their "common homeland."

A view of Nam Dan town. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong.