Some suggestions on developing Nghe An tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic

Tourism will become the world's largest industry and reach about 10% of global GDP (ie about over 10,000 billion USD). Tourism is an industry that is not subject to competitive pressure like industry. Tourism development will lead to the development of many other service industries, solve many jobs, contribute to increasing budget revenue,... In Vietnam, the tourism industry is contributing up to 10% of GDP to the country.

Panoramic view of Vinh city center, Nghe An. Photo: Le Thang

Nghe An is a province with potential for tourism development, so after the Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 4, 2017 of the Politburo on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector, the Law on Tourism 2017, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee issued Action Program No. 55-CT/TU dated January 4, 2018 on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector in Nghe An province in the period of 2018-2030. The Action Program was organized and implemented by the entire political system of the province and achieved many initial results. However, the province's tourism development is not commensurate with the province's potential and strengths and has declined sharply when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

To continue developing Nghe An tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to effectively implement many solutions. First of all, build and soon submit for approval the "Nghe An Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, vision to 2035". In the strategy, it is recommended to pay attention to the Communication Strategy, Product Strategy, Tourism Human Resource Training Strategy, etc. Continue to exchange and discuss to create a high level of consensus on the strengths of Nghe An's tourism products. In our opinion, the strongest strength for the province to exploit and develop, which many provinces and cities in the country do not have as much advantage as Nghe An, is cultural, historical and ecological tourism.

Tourists visit Uncle Ho's hometown. Photo: Huy Thu

Many domestic and foreign tourists will come to Nghe An if the province effectively exploits and promotes its existing advantages.

By 2021, the whole country was honored by UNESCO with 6 world cultural celebrities, of which Nghe Tinh had 3 celebrities: President Ho Chi Minh - the national liberation hero, a genius leader admired and respected by the whole world; Great poet Nguyen Du with his masterpiece Tale of Kieu; Female poet, "Queen of Nom poetry" Ho Xuan Huong. In 2014, Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs were recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Many domestic and foreign tourists will come to Nghe An if the province exploits and promotes that advantage effectively.

First of all, it is necessary to plan and create a favorable environment to attract potential businesses to invest in waterway tourism and road tourism along the Lam River. The destinations of waterway tourism are Ngu Island, Cua Hoi, Quang Trung Temple, Hoang Muoi Temple, the relic site of General Secretary Le Hong Phong, patriot Phan Boi Chau, Kim Lien relic site, King Mai Hac De and Nguyen Du relic site (Tien Dien - Nghi Xuan). In addition to the above places, the destinations of road tourism also include Dai Tue Pagoda, Hoang Thi Loan Tomb and monument, Ho Chi Minh Square... Based on the planning of each destination, businesses will build necessary facilities to serve tourists such as wharves, houses introducing relics and performing folk songs, Giam, houses displaying and selling souvenirs,...

A performance of Nghe Tinh folk songs at Kim Lien relic site (Nam Dan). Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to data from the General Department of Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in 2019, Nghe An's natural forest area is the largest in the country (784,339 hectares), with Pu Mat National Park with a strictly protected forest subdivision of 79,718.4 hectares (the second largest compared to 8 other national parks). Pu Mat has many rich species of plants and animals, especially vast forests of po mu, sa mu, sang le... with streams, waterfalls,... attracting tourists. Many areas in the West are developed by businesses and households to grow tea, oranges, grapefruit, coffee, cinnamon, sunflowers,... for tourists to explore and experience.

The Western part of the province has many ethnic minorities living such as Thai, Kho Mu, Mong, Muong, Tho, Dan Lai, O Du,... Each ethnic group has its own cultural identity, with rich and diverse legends, anecdotes, folk tales, customs, habits, food and drinks. For the type of ecotourism associated with the culture of ethnic minorities, agricultural tourism, community tourism in the West needs to be planned, tours associated with attractive destinations.

Bamboo dancing at the Buon Xao Festival in Tien Ky commune, Tan Ky district attracts many tourists. Photo: Huy Thu

Along National Highway 7, National Highway 16 (connecting Ky Son - Que Phong) and National Highway 48, it is possible to identify clusters of points: Pu Mat National Park (Con Cuong), Nam Can, Muong Long (Ky Son), 7-storey waterfall, Sao Va waterfall (Que Phong), Bua cave (Quy Chau), Dien Lam tourist area (Dien Chau). At Pu Mat National Park, businesses can invest in cable cars to the po mu and sa mu forests, etc., organize cruises upstream of Giang River, Lam River, etc. Nam Can can coordinate with Xieng Khouang province (Laos) so that tourists can come to relax at mineral springs and visit the Plain of Jars.

Muong Long is 1,500m above sea level, located at 1,700m, with a cool climate all year round like Sapa, and can be planned as a good resort. Muong Long has an area of ​​14,156.84 hectares, with many wide valleys and fertile soil that can grow a whole forest of stone peach trees for tourists to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery and buy peach pots and baskets to bring home for Tet. For many years, the specialties of the Mong people have been very popular with many consumers in the province, such as Shan Tuyet tea, taro, dried bamboo shoots, dried beef, black chicken, purple sticky rice, peaches, persimmons, apricots, and plums in this area.

Western Nghe An has great potential for developing eco-tourism services. Photo courtesy

Sao Va waterfall and the 7-storey waterfall, if planned and invested in service infrastructure soon, will be a very attractive destination for tourists.

From Muong Long, tourists come to Sao Va Waterfall (Tien Phong Commune) and 7-storey Waterfall (Hanh Dich Commune) of Que Phong District. These are two waterfalls close to each other (less than 20km) on the same route, a Nam Viec River and are the two most beautiful waterfalls in the Western region of Nghe An. If planned and invested in service infrastructure soon, it will be a very attractive destination for tourists. From the two waterfalls to Bua Cave and the ancient Thai village of Chau Tien Commune, Quy Chau District is about 15km.

Hang Bua is the most beautiful cave in Nghe An, associated with the sacred temple of Chieng Ngam and the legend of the ancient Thai people. Every year, in January (before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic), the district organizes the Hang Bua Festival, attracting many tourists to attend the ceremony and have the opportunity to visit the Thai village of Hoa Tien origin. Following National Highway 48, tourists come to Dien Lam Tourist Area (Dien Chau) of Muong Thanh Group. This tourist area has been invested in and put into operation as a complex of hotels, lakes, golf courses, zoos, etc. with poetic scenery.

In addition to exploiting and promoting the advantages of cultural and historical tourism and ecological tourism, Nghe An can also develop sea resort tourism with 82km of coastline, with beaches such as Cua Lo, Lu beach, Dien Thanh, Quynh Phuong but it is difficult to compete with coastal provinces and cities from Da Nang onwards such as Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Phu Quoc island, etc.

Cua Lo is the most famous coastal tourist town in Nghe An and is one of the familiar destinations for tourists nationwide. Photo: Sach Nguyen

To develop tourism, it is necessary for the province to direct and assign more clearly the responsibilities of each level and each sector. State management of tourism is mainly building strategies, planning, policy mechanisms (such as land, compensation for site clearance, etc.), reforming administrative procedures, environmental management, security and order management, etc.

Investing in infrastructure, tourism products, promoting, training human resources, organizing tours, attracting tourists, etc. is mainly the responsibility of businesses, cooperatives, and household owners associated with their tourism business revenue and profits. The experience of localities with a strong and effective tourism industry is to create a favorable and open environment to attract many potential, experienced, and branded businesses to invest such as Vingroup, Muong Thanh, FLC, Saigon Tourist, etc.

In order to restore tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic and invest with focus and key points in the coming time, we recommend that the province soon consider approving the addition of the master plan, in which priority is given to developing 2 tours: cultural and historical tours associated with the spirituality of Ngu Island, Cua Hoi, Quyet Mountain, Hoang Muoi Temple, the relic site: Le Hong Phong, Phan Boi Chau, Kim Lien, King Mai Hac De Temple, Dai Tue Pagoda, Hoang Thi Loan's tomb and President Ho Chi Minh's statue. As for international tourists, they will be more interested in the waterway tour along Lam River to go to Ngu Island, Kim Lien Relic Site (Nam Dan) associated with the cultural celebrity Ho Chi Minh, the relic site of the great poet, cultural celebrity Nguyen Du (Tien Dien - Nghi Xuan) and listen to folk songs.

Apricot and plum blossom season in Muong Long commune (Ky Son). Photo: Ho Nhat Thanh

Along with the above tours are eco-tours associated with the culture of ethnic minorities, agricultural tourism and community tourism along 3 routes: National Highway 7, National Highway 16, National Highway 48 with destinations: Pu Mat National Park, Nam Can, Muong Long, 7-storey waterfall, Sao Va, Bua cave and Dien Lam tourist area. If the above destinations are promoted, synchronous investment in infrastructure such as transportation, electricity, water, information, hotels, restaurants and other services, especially after the Hanoi - Vinh expressway is completed, international flights of Vinh Airport are increased, then it is certain that these will be two attractive tours for domestic and foreign tourists to Nghe An in the near future.

Spring 2022 opens up many prospects for rapid socio-economic recovery and gradually turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector as set out in the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term.