A land of legends

(Baonghean)Cua Lo is a place blessed by nature with many scenic spots. With its "two dragons facing each other" geographical location, this land is considered a green gem of the East Sea, rich in culture, history, and mysterious legends...

A land of scenic spots and legends

Cua Lo is a land that was formed and developed early on, situated in a geographically convenient location with convenient water and land transportation, and boasting many scenic spots. The land lies between two major rivers, the Lam River to the south and the Cam River to the north, while the vast East Sea lies before it. Looking into the distance, to the right rises Thach Dong Mountain, and to the left are Song Ngu Island and Hon Mat Island. Mountains such as Bang Nhan, Kiem Mountain, Lo Mountain, and Song Ngu Island surround it, acting as a natural screen… Therefore, Cua Lo has an extremely advantageous location and incredibly beautiful scenery. In particular, the Van Loc area is considered a famous scenic spot in Nghe An, immortalized in the proud saying passed down through generations: "Thanh Hoa Nho Yen, Nghe An Van Loc." Rarely does any place possess such a convergence of mountains and rivers, embraced by the sea. Therefore, it is considered a land where the essence of nature is gathered, nurturing excellence. As the ancients once praised:

Hong Linh mountain is high
Pisces, the ocean
If we encounter the right time
Talented individuals emerge

(Hong Linh mountain range)
Pisces wide tank
If it's morning
Talent flourishes

Cua Lo is also a land associated with many legends. It was once the place where the two children of Lac Long Quan and Au Co left their footprints on their journey to establish their lives. To remember their origins and the gratitude owed to their parents, they built a temple at the estuary, the predecessor of the Cua Temple dedicated to Queen Au Co in Nghe An today. Similarly, Bai Lu is said to be the place where An Duong Vuong was carried into the sea by a golden turtle. The legend of the formation of Mat Island is linked to the story of To Nuong, who waited anxiously for her husband. During the Tang Dynasty, Wang Bo – one of the four outstanding poets of the early Tang Dynasty – sailed across the sea to Vietnam to visit his father. His ship sank, and his body drifted to Cua Hoi. Later, the people built a temple to worship him, and wooden statues of Wang Bo and his son still remain today. During the Tran Dynasty, Song Ngu Pagoda was where Princess Huyen Tran practiced Buddhism for a time before returning to Thang Long. Cua Lo also boasts numerous ancient relics, including temples and pagodas such as Dao Ngu Pagoda, Pho Am Pagoda, and temples dedicated to famous figures like the temple of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi, and the temple of Thai Pho Nguyen Su Hoi. These historical relics bear witness to a period of historical and cultural development in this land.

Ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Lo Son Pagoda as a historical relic. Photo: XN

Cua Lo in the flow of national history

The land of Cua Lo, with its majestic mountains and rivers, has nurtured and produced many outstanding individuals. National history records that this land has produced countless talented and heroic figures, from literature to martial arts, from medicine to technology. Cua Lo, with its Sword Mountain and Flag Mountain, creates a sacred atmosphere conducive to the flourishing of martial arts: it is the birthplace of outstanding military generals such as Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi and Thai Bao Nguyen Su Hoi. The Nguyen Dinh family, descendants of Nguyen Xi, boasts dozens of individuals who have been granted the titles of Duke and Marquis. In modern times, Cua Lo also has four revolutionary fighters holding the rank of general: Hoang Dan, Hoang Khue, Hoang Mien, and Le Xuan Kien, along with many others holding the rank of colonel...

To the right of the Cấm River lies Bảng Nhãn Mountain, acting as a protective screen and gathering sacred energy. There is also Thạch Động Mountain, shaped like a pen writing on the blue sky, symbolizing Cửa Lò's reputation for scholarly achievements and academic success. Historically, this land has produced hundreds of highly accomplished individuals, from Hương Cống (provincial-level scholars) to Cử Nhân (bachelor's degree holders) and Tiến Sỹ (doctorate holders), with the highest being Hoàng Giáp (imperial-level scholar). The most notable is Thạch Động Phạm Nguyễn Du, who passed the Hoàng Giáp examination in 1779 and rose to the position of Đông Các Đại Học Sĩ (Grand Academician of the Eastern Pavilion). Bằng Quận Công Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh passed the Hương Cống examination at the age of 16 and also passed the Tam Trường examination in the military field. He was one of the most famous authors of Nôm poetry and one of the most influential figures in Vietnamese history in the 18th century. Hoàng Văn Cư passed the Phó Bảng examination and rose to the position of Đốc Học Nghệ An (Director of Education in Nghệ An). Nguyễn Huy Nhu, who earned a Tiến Sỹ (doctorate), was a renowned Confucian scholar and educator of the 20th century, serving as President of the Vietnam Ancient Studies Association and editor-in-chief of the Cổ Học Quý San (Ancient Studies Magazine)…

Besides its literary and martial talents, Cua Lo is also home to many famous physicians, including members of the Hoang family, among whom are descendants of the great king Hoang Ta Thon. The renowned physician Hoang Nguyen Cat is the author of the masterpiece medical book "Quy Vien Gia Hoc". Hoang Nguyen Le served as the Vice President of the Imperial Medical Institute, treating the king and the royal family. He also held the position of Deputy Chief Envoy to China and was praised by the Qing Dynasty as "a Vietnamese envoy with profound medical knowledge and exemplary poetry." Hoang Van Tham, the son of Hoang Van Cu, continued the glorious tradition of his family, passing the Bachelor's degree examination in the year of the Rabbit (1915). In 1936, he was one of the founders of the Central Vietnam Medical Association, bringing together many patriotic scholars and intellectuals from Thanh Hoa to Phan Thiet. He was one of the key figures in the revival of traditional Vietnamese medicine. By 1958, he held the positions of Director of the Vietnam Institute of Traditional Medicine and Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Traditional Medicine.
Cua Lo is also the birthplace of many famous revolutionary heroes such as the patriot Hoang Phan Thai – praised by Phan Boi Chau as the "founding father of the revolution". In modern times, there is Comrade Hoang Van Tam – a staunch communist during the Soviet Uprising of 1930-1931. Revolutionary fighter Pham Tuoc organized the printing and concealment of secret Party documents during the Soviet Uprising of 1930-1931. Female Saigon commando Le Thi Bach Cat, former Secretary of District II Youth Union, sacrificed her life during the General Offensive and Uprising of Spring 1968. Most notably, there is Comrade Nguyen Duy Trinh – former member of the Politburo and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam...

Leveraging "human resources" for sustainable tourism development.

Cua Lo possesses not only natural resources and scenic landscapes but also rich cultural and historical resources. These are immense resources for developing and diversifying tourism. Therefore, developing tourism solely based on natural resources, primarily beach tourism, will not fully reveal its true potential and strengths. One of the optimal solutions for enhancing Cua Lo's attractiveness to tourists is to link beach and scenic tourism with spiritual and religious tourism. According to preliminary statistics, Cua Lo currently has a full range of historical and scenic sites, including three sites recognized as national historical and cultural relics and dozens of other provincial-level historical sites. Leveraging these advantages to unlock potential, showcase strengths, and showcase the rich cultural and historical traditions of the area to visitors, while simultaneously fostering exploration, discovery, and appreciation for positive cultural and humanistic values.

One of the immediate measures to promote the aforementioned values ​​is to build a comprehensive information system about historical sites and scenic spots; to train a highly professional team of tourism business staff and tour guides, contributing to creating a strong impression and becoming a tourist destination.

Tran Tu Quang (Provincial Library)