Embark on new journeys this Autumn-Winter season in Nghe An.

As autumn arrives, the Mekong Delta calls for a season of exploration.

By the end of August, Cua Lo is no longer as crowded as during the peak summer months. The beach is less crowded, and the seaside town has slowed down. But for some tourists, this change of season opens up another option: going to the beach is not just about swimming.

Nguyen Xuan Phong's family from Hanoi chose Cua Lo at the end of August for the same reason. The weather is more pleasant, the heat is less intense, while other aspects of the seaside town remain just as attractive.

“The weather at the end of August has become more pleasant, no longer too hot. My family still enjoys going to the beach, both to relax, enjoy seafood, and to visit and explore more destinations and unique cultural features of Cua Lo,” Phong shared.

From the tourists' stories, it's clear that the challenge for Cua Lo tourism after the peak season is not simply how to extend the beach season, but how to give tourists more reasons to visit the beach when the demand for swimming has decreased.

That is also the direction Cua Lo is gradually choosing when developing its autumn-winter tourism products. When the beach is no longer the only product, traditional crafts, cuisine, the lives of coastal residents, culture, spirituality, art, and recreational activities will become "pieces" to extend the tourist's journey.

According to Mr. Nguyen The Son, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of the Cua Lo Ward People's Committee, the locality is continuing to implement the plan to organize the Cua Lo Tourism Festival "Four Seasons of the Sea Calling," with contents such as "Cua Lo in Autumn" and "Cua Lo Without Winter."

In the autumn, Cua Lo plans to host the Sea Carnival, the North Central Vietnam Tourism and Culinary Culture Festival, folk art performances of the Vi and Giam styles, along with a series of activities celebrating National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Towards the end of the year, the "Cua Lo Without Winter" product continues to focus on new experiences such as winter seaside city exploration tours, folk singing shows on the sea "Folk Songs Anchoring the Waves", sports competitions, international jet ski races, and activities celebrating Halloween and Christmas.

"Organizing events throughout the year, linked to suitable products, will create more reasons for tourists to visit Cua Lo even after the beach season is over," Mr. Son said.

While Cua Lo is seeking to extend its tourist season by revitalizing its existing attractions, western Nghe An has a different advantage: its natural environment and local culture are not dependent on seasonal beach activities.

Seeking a trip closer to nature, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, residing in Thanh Vinh ward, chose Pu Mat National Park and Muong Long National Park for his early autumn trips. For him, the appeal lies not only in the scenery but also in the feeling of temporarily escaping the hustle and bustle of city life to immerse himself in the mountains and forests, enjoy the fresh air, and discover the local culture.

“In Pu Mat, there are forests, rivers, waterfalls, and experiences close to nature; in Muong Long, there is a cool climate, high mountain scenery, and the culture of the Mong people. If these destinations could be connected into a convenient itinerary, it would be a suitable choice for weekend trips,” Tuan Anh shared.

In fact, products such as trekking, forest exploration, experiencing community life, and enjoying local cuisine are opening up suitable avenues for tourism development in Pu Mat during the autumn and winter seasons.

In Muong Long, the beauty of the vast forests, the natural ecosystem, the Mong villages, and the unique cultural life are being promoted to attract tourists. As the weather changes to autumn and winter, the highland markets, local cuisine, traditional customs, and exploration routes become even more attractive products.

In addition, Chau Tien, Tien Phong, Hon Mat (Nghia Loc commune)... are gradually creating more landscapes, check-in points, and camping spaces, contributing to enriching the choices for tourists.

Looking from the coast to the mountains, it's clear that the autumn-winter season isn't a slump for tourism in Nghe An, but rather a time for restructuring tourism products.

As autumn arrives, the Mekong Delta calls for a season of exploration. And that could be the time for Nghe An tourism to prove that the appeal of a destination doesn't lie in a peak season, but in its ability to tell a unique story to visitors in each season.

Connecting the journey of experiences

Besides beach, eco-tourism, and community-based tourism, the autumn-winter season is also a suitable time to develop spiritual and heritage tourism products. The system of historical and cultural relics, temples, and pagodas in the province is a favorable resource for building itineraries that combine worship, learning about history and culture with enjoying the scenery.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhung, representative of Saigontourist Travel Company in Nghe An, believes that if properly connected, destinations such as Kim Lien, the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, Chung Son Temple, Dai Tue Pagoda, and the system of historical sites in the localities could form "Back to the Roots" tours, combining spirituality with ecology, community, and cuisine.

This is a suitable option for travelers during the autumn and winter seasons, when relaxing trips rich in experiences and cultural depth are increasingly in demand.

Understanding the needs of tourists, Nghe An is shifting its focus to developing products, stimulating demand, and promoting tourism, gradually transforming the advantages of the autumn-winter season into concrete travel itineraries.

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province is developing a program to stimulate demand and attract tourists in the Autumn-Winter season of 2026, focusing on organizing cultural, sports, and artistic activities; guiding businesses to develop new products, promotional programs, and service discounts; and expanding connectivity by road, air, and sea.

Notably, the "Back to the Roots" tours, linked to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace, the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, Chung Son Temple, Dai Tue Pagoda, and the system of national and special national historical sites, are oriented towards connecting with ecological and community-based products.

Instead of developing individual destinations separately, Nghe An aims to create interconnected routes: Thanh Vinh - Kim Lien - Cua Lo; Kim Lien - the Mekong Delta; Cua Lo - Kim Lien - the Mekong Delta and surrounding areas. When the itinerary is conveniently designed, tourists have more reasons to extend their stay and spend more at the destination.

Along with product development, promotional and marketing efforts are also being intensified. Nghe An plans to introduce its products, services, destinations, and the Vi Giam folk songs at the ITE International Tourism Fair in Ho Chi Minh City; participate in promotional activities in Guilin (China); and organize Nghe An tourism promotion conferences in Thailand and Laos.

Several new events and destinations in the final months of the year are also expected to add to the appeal, such as the program to receive the National Treasure of the Lang Vac Bronze Drum Collection, the inauguration of the Exhibition Room of the National Treasure of the Relic Box at Nhan Tower; the VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An; the ceremony to receive the Decision designating Quynh Beach as a provincial-level tourist area; the expanded North Central Region Tourism and Culinary Culture Festival and Nghe An Legacy Marathon.

At the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, spaces and stalls showcasing lotus products, OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, and specialties of Nghe An province are also being developed to create additional stopping points and experiences for tourists.

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To attract tourists during the Autumn-Winter season, Nghe An will continue to innovate its products, strengthen connections between destinations and travel businesses, and boost promotion across multiple channels. Emphasis will be placed on exploiting its strengths in nature, culture, and history to develop suitable products and itineraries, creating more appeal and extending the length of stay for tourists.”

Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

From the coast to the mountains, from relaxing getaways to cultural explorations, Nghe An has many advantages to "awaken" the autumn-winter season. The key is not just beautiful destinations, but also attractive products, convenient itineraries, and effective marketing that caters to the evolving needs of tourists.