Connecting Cua Lo tourism with Lao tourists

(Baonghean) - Cua Lo is famous for its attractive beaches, attracting domestic and international tourists. In particular, the harmonious natural scenery, beautiful beaches and the hospitality of Nghe people have left a good impression on tourists from Laos...

Through National Highway 7 and National Highway 8, Lao and Thai tourists can conveniently reach Cua Lo coastal town thanks to the upgraded road traffic system. Especially since the opening of the direct flight route Vinh - Vientiane, many opportunities have been opened for Lao and Thai tourists to reach Cua Lo faster.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cua Lo Town, Cua Lo welcomes an average of 5,000 - 5,500 foreign visitors each year, of which nearly 1/3 are tourists from Laos.

Restaurant in Cua Lo Town has a bilingual sign in Vietnamese - Lao

Cua Lo Beach is famous for its pure beauty, and the summer is filled with golden sunshine. Right at the beginning of the 2015 beach tourism season, Ms. Pachai Ya from Xieng Khouang province, Laos, along with a group of Laotian students from the 54th class, majoring in Business Administration at Vinh University, came to Cua Lo.

“When I came to Vietnam to study, I went to many places, but the most impressive place was Cua Lo, a place with beautiful beaches and friendly people. This is the 7th time I have come to Cua Lo. The first time I came here was when I was 18 years old, it was also the first time I went to the sea. Standing in front of the vast ocean, to me this is a paradise. When night falls, Cua Lo is sparkling with lights, the moon and stars are magical, the wind blows, the waves have a strange attraction. We can immerse ourselves in nature, play with the waves, run along the beach to pick up pretty snails... Every time I return to my country, I introduce to my family and friends the beauty of Cua Lo and the country and people of Vietnam" - Ms. Pachai Ya shared.

Nature has endowed Cua Lo with a harmonious picture connecting river - sea, island - mountain. With beautiful scenery, clear blue sea water, long sandy beach, it really gives visitors a feeling of comfort when relaxing.

The impression of Cua Lo tourism is not only that, it is also the satisfaction of tourists with entertainment services, famous landscapes and landscapes. Cua Lo has an increasingly developed infrastructure system, cultural and sports tourism services. Along with the hotel system, Cua Lo has put into operation the ecological tourism complex, resort villas, sports, entertainment Lan Chau - Song Ngu.

Coming to Cua Lo, tourists in general and Lao tourists in particular can visit Song Ngu Pagoda, Van Loc Temple, Thu Lung Temple, Nguyen Xi Temple, relic sites, and souvenir sites to feel the cultural value of Cua Lo that has been cultivated over hundreds of years - this is one of the common points in spiritual culture and Buddhist beliefs of the two Vietnamese and Lao peoples.

Mr. Nanthavong Syvongxai from Xieng Khouang province shared: “I have known about Cua Lo beach since I was in high school. At that time, I always dreamed of going to the beach because Laos has no sea. Then that dream came true when I went to Nghe An to study. Every time I return to Cua Lo, it always gives me new feelings. What I like most is enjoying seafood cuisine that my country does not have. The people here are rustic and sincere... I think these factors make tourists always remember Cua Lo.”

To promote the image, potential, and tourism connection of Cua Lo to domestic and foreign tourists, Nghe An organizes many activities to promote and leave a good impression on tourists every time they come to Cua Lo.

Mr. Thong van Bun Bua - Deputy General Director of Lao National Television said: "In recent times, Lao National Television has organized the production of many news, articles, and reports about the country, people, and landscapes of Nghe An, promoting Cua Lo tourism as well as opening the Vinh - Vientiane flight route to bring information to Lao audiences. And through that information, every year many Lao tourists come to Cua Lo."

Nghe An province also organizes activities to attract tourists to Cua Lo such as the "North Central Cuisine Festival" in Cua Lo town with the participation of neighboring provinces and neighboring countries of Laos and Thailand. This event has left an impression on friends, people and domestic and international tourists, contributing significantly to promoting tourism development and cultural exchange. At the same time, it creates opportunities to promote cultural values ​​of tourism and cuisine as well as introduce images, products, tours and tourist routes of the locality to tourists. Through this, delegations from neighboring countries of Laos, Thailand and localities in the province have the opportunity to meet, exchange to link and cooperate in tourism development.

Realizing the potential of increasing number of tourists from Laos to the coastal area, Cua Lo people have proactively improved the quality of tourism services. Enterprises and business households have attached bilingual Vietnamese - Lao signs on restaurant and hotel signs. Some shops also print menus in Lao and train staff to communicate in Lao with tourists from neighboring Laos.

Talking to us, Mr. Tran Anh Tuan - Deputy Head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cua Lo Town said: "In recent years, the Town has organized many cultural and sports exchange activities for delegations from Laos to stay in Cua Lo. At the same time, it has created favorable conditions for Lao people to open service booths in the town and trade in Lao products to exploit the tourism potential of the two countries and contribute to building the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos. To strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism promotion and advertising, in 2015, Cua Lo Town organized a press conference in Laos and Thailand, creating a cooperative relationship for sustainable tourism development."

Le Thanh