Interesting experiences when coming to Cua Lo

Cua Lo Beach is rated by the World Tourism Organization as one of the most ideal beaches in Vietnam with a length of over 10 km, a gentle slope, clear blue water, moderate waves, and suitable salinity, which are characteristics that not every beach has... Here, visitors can participate in many activities such as: pulling nets, night squid fishing with locals, or experiencing jet skiing, playing soccer, flying kites on the beach...

Ảnh: Nguyễn Đạo - Sách Nguyễn
Photo: Nguyen Dao - Nguyen Books

Located right next to the coast, Lan Chau Island has the shape of a giant toad stretching out to the sea. This island is part of the main tourist tour of Cua Lo coastal town, for tourists who love to explore the wild beauty. The east of Lan Chau Island is a series of rocky cliffs stretching out to the sea, due to the erosion of wind and waves, these rocks have interesting shapes. On the top of the island is the Nghinh Phong pavilion of King Bao Dai. From this position, you can observe the whole town, Cua Lo Port and look out to the vast ocean.

From Lan Chau Island pier, visitors can travel by canoe or boat to Ngu Island. It is known that from June 1, 2024, there will be a cable car system departing from VinWonders Cua Hoi area - the first and only sea-crossing cable car in the North Central region, with a length of 3.5 km, a capacity of 1,500 guests per hour, connecting the amusement park complex on the shore with the Ngu Island ecological complex, providing a 360-degree view of Cua Lo beach with breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

Đảo Lan Châu trong ánh bình minh. Ảnh: Sách Nguyễn
Lan Chau Island in the dawn light. Photo: Nguyen Sach

Ngu Island, also known as Song Ngu, is formed from two large mountains facing the sea. On the island there is Ngu Pagoda, built during the Tran Dynasty nearly 700 years ago and is said to be very sacred. The pagoda is located between the trading routes of Cua Lo and Cua Hoi, so since ancient times, merchants who came and went to trade often came here to burn incense and pray for good luck. Ngu Pagoda consists of the upper pagoda, the lower pagoda and the pagoda garden. In addition to worshiping Buddha, the pagoda also worships a talented general of the Tran Dynasty, Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon.

Located in the center of Cua Lo town, Nghi Thuy fishing village still retains the unique features of the sea culture, and has become a "valuable asset" for tourists to explore and experience when coming to this beautiful coastal city. This check-in point is very suitable for tourists who love to explore, experience, and live slowly... with many emotional levels of the bustling atmosphere from 3-4 am at the market; the fragrant smell of grilled fish and grilled shrimp welcoming the dawn; when the sun has burst into the space, it is also the time when mothers and sisters rush to carry fish to sell...

Ảnh: Sách Nguyễn - Đình Tuyên - Thanh Phúc
Photo: Nguyen - Dinh Tuyen - Thanh Phuc Book

To experience the long-standing traditional fish sauce making profession, fish sauce villages such as Hai Giang 1 and Nghi Thuy are also interesting choices for tourists. Here, tourists have the opportunity to experience with the locals the stages of processing products such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, and famous sour fish sauce of Cua Lo.

In particular, coming to Cua Lo on Saturday and Sunday nights every week, visitors will be immersed in activities such as street music festivals combined with night food activities, folk dance competitions, dance groups... held on Saturday and Sunday nights every week. In addition, there are street carnivals, fishing festivals, lantern festivals... which will enrich the experience when coming to Cua Lo.

Cua Lo town currently has 40 tangible cultural heritages that have been included in the inventory list, of which 13 have been ranked, including 4 national relics (Van Loc temple; Hoang Van family temple; Mai Bang temple; Nguyen Trong Dat church and tomb) and 9 provincial relics.

Ảnh: Huy Thư
Photo: Huy Thu

In addition to tangible cultural heritage, Cua Lo town also has 6 types of 97 intangible cultural heritages. On this basis, the town has chosen to establish a dossier of the typical intangible cultural heritage "Yen Luong Temple Festival" which has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Besides the delicious traditional dishes with the salty taste of the sea such as grilled mackerel, squid, crab meatballs, steamed crab, clam porridge... recently, many restaurants in the coastal town have also created many strange and attractive dishes such as lobster blood pudding, sour and rich herring salad, butter-sauced snails served with bread...

The important thing is that the food in Cua Lo is fresh and delicious, with reasonable prices. Especially, if you need to enjoy eel soup, chicken pho, wet rice cake, or sticky rice of all kinds, Cua Lo is also ready to serve tourists.

Ảnh: Đình Tuyên - Hồ Phương
Photo: Dinh Tuyen - Ho Phuong

The town currently has more than 300 accommodation establishments meeting 2 to 5 star standards such as Muong Thanh Hotel, Saigon Kim Lien Hotel, Summer Hotel system, Vinpearl Discovery Cua Hoi Area to meet the accommodation needs of tourists. In addition, the town has more than 150 newly built restaurants that are spacious, clean, beautiful, modern with service style and quality to meet the organization of large events.

Ảnh: Nguyễn Đạo - Đức Anh
Photo: Nguyen Dao - Duc Anh

The electric car will be a convenient and friendly companion for tourists during shopping, dining, sightseeing, and experiencing tours in the inner city of Cua Lo such as: Lan Chau Island - Van Loc Temple - Destination Nghi Thuy Ward or Hieu Village Temple - Cua Hoi Bridge - Hai Giang I Fish Sauce Village - Vinpearl Cua Hoi Entertainment Area...

To expand the promotion of tourist attractions in the town with tourist attractions in the province and in the country, this year the town continues to link tours to Cua Lo - Vinh - Nam Dan, Cua Lo - Ha Tinh and domestic tourist attractions.

Ảnh: Đình Tuyên
Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Talking with Mr. Hoang Thanh Son - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Cua Lo town, it is known that: on the opening night of Cua Lo tourism 2024 and receiving the certificate of recognition of national intangible cultural heritage of Yen Luong Temple Festival taking place on the evening of April 18, there were more than 30 thousand tourists from all over the province and outside the province coming to Cua Lo. This is a good sign for Cua Lo to become an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.

To ensure service for tourists in 2024, Cua Lo has invested in building a walking route along the beach from Lan Chau Island to Vinpearl Cua Hoi with a lighting system and decorative electricity to serve tourists walking and enjoying the beach scene at night, associated with the planning of the park area east of Binh Minh Street. Plan to add shower spots, parking lots, check-in spots and locations for growing sea daisies. Plan Cua Lo flash squid selling points and night-caught products, OCOP products (the area on the sidewalk of Nguyen Xi Street from Binh Minh Street connecting to Lan Chau Island). Renovate the food courts along Lam River, the food court on Mai Thuc Loan Street. Invest in completing construction items associated with the construction of destinations in Nghi Thuy and Nghi Thu wards and destinations in wards to promote and advertise Cua Lo tourism images and products...

Ảnh: Đình Tuyên - Đức Anh
Photo: Dinh Tuyen - Duc Anh

Mr. Doan Tien Dung - Chairman of Cua Lo Town People's Committee emphasized: 2024 is a pivotal year, a sprint year to implement the goals of economic, social, national defense and security development for the period 2020 - 2025; celebrating the 30th anniversary of the town's establishment, Cua Lo tourism is facing new opportunities. Faced with that opportunity and opportunity, the Party Committee and people of Cua Lo focus on tasks such as: Focusing on doing a good job of planning and renovating the traffic infrastructure system, lighting, and decorative electricity. Stepping up propaganda and promoting Cua Lo as a safe, friendly, and attractive destination. Focusing on developing a system of quality, unique, diverse, and synchronous tourism products with high value, gradually extending the duration of tourism activities. Strengthening state management in all fields; strengthening environmental sanitation, rescue, and search and rescue, ensuring safety for people and tourists. Continue to improve the quality of accommodation facilities, restaurants, and labor resources serving tourism. Focus on reviewing targets, tasks, and proposing solutions to continue effectively implementing Projects and Plans serving tourism development.

Biển người về với đêm khai mạc du lịch Cửa Lò 2024. Ảnh: Sách Nguyễn
Sea of ​​people returning to the opening night of Cua Lo tourism 2024. Photo: Sach Nguyen