Open direction for Anh Son tourism

(Baonghean) - With the diversity and richness of potential for tourism development, on December 8, 2011, Anh Son District People's Committee issued Decision No. 2349/QD-UBND approving the Project "Restoration and embellishment of historical relics associated with tourism development in Anh Son District", with the desire to attract investment, focus resources on opening up the "dormant" tourism potential...

Rich in potential

As a mountainous district in the Southwest of Nghe An, stretching along the banks of Lam River, Con River, Giang River and National Highway 7, it is convenient for transporting and exchanging goods by waterway; these are the conditions for Anh Son to strongly develop trade, services and tourism. In addition, with the terrain of many limestone mountain ranges, connected together, with Kim Nhan peak over 1340m high, creating many beautiful caves that attract tourists.

Ban Veu is a buffer zone of Pu Mat primeval forest, with large natural forest resources, including many valuable forest products, rich and diverse vegetation, and a fauna system with many rare and precious species - an attractive tourist destination for visitors from all over the country when coming to Anh Son. Areas specializing in industrial crops such as tea, sugarcane, etc. in Hung Son, Binh Son, Thanh Son, and Cao Son communes with fresh climate and beautiful landscapes have also become attractive tourist destinations.

Panorama of the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs Cemetery (Anh Son town, Anh Son district). Photo: Thanh Cuong

The whole Anh Son district has 62 historical and cultural relics, including 11 national relics and 5 provincial relics. Some relics that can be exploited for tourism include: Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery, the resting place of 11,000 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died on the battlefield in Laos; Dong Truong cave archaeological site in Hoi Son commune, ranked as a national archaeological site; Dragon Ferry, Ngu wharf in Tuong Son commune - where Le Loi, Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Xi, Dinh Liet passed by, met and made heroic achievements; Coconut Airport - where the heroic MICs of the Vietnam Air Force took off to shoot down the American enemy's Ghosts and Thunder Gods; Yen Xuan Hieu - where the first Party cell was established. In addition, there are: Duc Ong temple; Truong Han temple, famous for its sacredness.

In particular, in localities where Thai ethnic people live, their own cultural identity is still preserved and promoted: Stilt house architecture, traditional costumes, musical instruments such as gongs, cymbals, carving, brocade weaving... Every November 18, the district organizes a border cultural festival in Veu village, every 3 years, the district organizes a cultural festival of ethnic groups in the area. These are meaningful activities in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity as well as contributing to creating attractive destinations for tourists.

With its diverse and rich potential, on December 8, 2011, Anh Son District People's Committee issued Decision No. 2349/QD-UBND approving the Project "Restoration and embellishment of historical relics associated with tourism development in Anh Son District". With the desire to attract investment, focus resources on opening up the tourism potential that has been "dormant" for a long time.

Open Directions

How to attract tourists to Anh Son? And what is the highlight of Anh Son tourism? These are two issues that were discussed in detail at the meeting between the Department of Tourism and the leaders of Anh Son district in mid-July. At the meeting, the delegates all agreed that Anh Son has many historical and cultural relics, but the district must identify the highlight of spiritual tourism and origin tourism of Anh Son as the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery. This is not only a place to educate the young generation about patriotic traditions, but also a place to return to and visit relatives for thousands of families and thousands of tourists every year.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Bac - Chief Representative of Hanoi Unesco Travel Club in the Central region - Chairman of PhucGroup Tourism Investment Company - PGC, is one of the sons of Anh Son hometown, pondering: Tourism is a special, interdisciplinary and inter-regional industry, considering that the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs Cemetery has advantages that can create a spiritual tourism highlight of Western Nghe An. On the way from Vinh City to Con Cuong, tourists can hold a ceremony and visit martyrs before going to explore the natural values ​​and ethnic culture in Con Cuong. With the 2-day 1-night Vinh - Pu Mat - Vinh tours, this destination cannot be missed.

Cay Sung Beach - Cao Veu 1 village, Phuc Son commune (Anh Son). Photo: Ho Phuong

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of the Department of Tourism affirmed: The Tourism Promotion Center will include information about the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery in promotional publications, on the Department of Tourism's website; include this address in the mandatory itinerary of Famtrip, Fresstrip survey teams.... Innovate the cooperation mechanism and information exchange between the cemetery management board, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Anh Son district and businesses. In the immediate future, Anh Son district and the cemetery management board as well as the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs need to connect with other famous historical sites of the province such as: Kim Lien, Truong Bon, KM 0 historical site (Tan Ky), Muong Thanh Cultural Ecological Area (Dien Chau), Pu Mat National Park... to have support in promoting this destination directly to tourists; pay attention to directing travel companies to connect and promote tourism for Anh Son.

In the near future, the district is preparing to start construction of a number of restaurants and hotels in the area to serve tourists; planning to expand the Cua Luy spiritual area; actively calling for investment in tourism projects. A typical example is the Giang River - Ban Veu Ecotourism Project, exploiting the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve listed by UNESCO; this tour will attract visitors with interesting experiences of the mountains and forests, biodiversity and unique cultural features of the ethnic communities living in the area; Project to develop craft villages associated with tourism such as brocade weaving in Bong village, Thanh Son commune so that visitors can participate in the brocade weaving process, enjoy unique cuisine, and choose exquisite brocade gifts as gifts. In addition, a number of projects to restore and embellish historical relics and revolutionary relics associated with festivals in the area are being planned and built.

Thanh Thuy - Luong Mai