Stream tourism attracts visitors to Western Nghe An during the holiday season

Many tourists visit Nam Khien stream, Luu Kien commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: CSCC

As a locality with a dense stream system, Tuong Duong has rich and diverse aquatic resources, especially cool fish - a rare specialty. In recent years, thanks to being well protected and bred, the fish have grown and developed rapidly, bringing great benefits to the people.

In addition to creating exploitation benefits, recently, ecological community tourism models have begun to take shape, opening up new livelihoods for people in the highlands.

Typically, in Luu Kien commune, recently formed eco-tourism site Xoong Con village, Nam Khien stream attracts thousands of tourists from everywhere, peaking from April to July every year.

Tourists experience catching stream fish in Nga My (Tuong Duong). Photo: Dinh Tuan

Along with that are a series of services: experience catching cool fish by hand, with nets on streams; enjoy the cuisine of the local people... bringing significant income to the people.

In Thai Hoa, a farm owner has taken advantage of the Khe To stream, releasing nearly 2 tons of various goldfish into it, creating a landscape for tourism. Along with the natural source of stream fish, raised goldfish, beautiful and peaceful natural scenery, in recent years, Khe To has become an attractive destination for thousands of tourists.

With ticket prices ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 VND/turn, along with accompanying services, it has brought in a significant income and created jobs for many local workers.

Enjoy cool fish specialties right by the stream. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Pham The Minh, the owner of this facility, said: "In the first 2 days of the holiday, Khe To goldfish stream alone welcomed about 1,700-2,000 visitors to visit and experience.

On April 30 alone, thousands of people booked tickets in advance, but to ensure the ecological environment of the stream and to provide the best service to visitors, we had to turn away some of the guests. Currently, many people prefer this service, coming to sightsee, bathe in the stream, take photos, camp, and bring food to organize outdoor parties.

Liep Waterfall (Thanh Son Commune, Thanh Chuong) is also a popular tourist destination during this year's holiday. Despite the unfavorable weather, many groups of tourists still come to Liep Waterfall during the holidays.

The golden fish stream in Khe To (Nghia Dan) with its poetic scenery attracts visitors during the holidays. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Most of the guests from Vinh and Hanoi come to Liep waterfall to bathe, check-in and enjoy dishes of the local Thai people such as sticky rice, giang fish, river shrimp, stream fish, canh ot...

Ms. Nguyen Thi My Ha - a tourist from Vinh city said: "My group has 10 people, coming from different places. This year's holiday, we chose Liep waterfall as the first destination on our backpacking journey, followed by some streams in Con Cuong, Tuong Duong and Que Phong. We really like the fresh air, wild scenery and especially the rustic dishes of the local people".

On peak days, this place welcomes thousands of visitors coming to visit and check-in. Photo: NVCC

Currently, the stream experience tourism model is developing in mountainous districts such as: Thanh Chuong with Coi waterfall, Mua waterfall, Liep waterfall; Anh Son has Cao Veu; Con Cuong has Nuoc Moc stream, Khe Kem waterfall; Tan Ky has Hong Son waterfall, Mo cave, Khe Vinh waterfall, Khe Sanh...

In addition, irrigation dams such as Pha Lai (Con Cuong), Vuc Mau Lake (Quynh Luu), Ve Vung Dam (Yen Thanh)... are also the choices of many people during this year's holiday.

It can be said that this is a new direction, creating more income for people in highland communes, exploiting the potential and advantages of each locality. At the same time, through that, promoting and preserving cultural values, unique culinary features and landscapes of ethnic groups and villages, associated with biodiversity conservation.

Liep Waterfall (Thanh Son, Thanh Chuong) is also a place that attracts the attention of those who love to explore. Photo: CSCC

However, to exploit that potential, there needs to be specific planning, investment attraction policies, infrastructure construction, transportation and appropriate promotion strategies. In particular, the development of tourism services must ensure harmony between natural resource management and biodiversity conservation goals associated with sustainable economic and social development planning.