Phu Tuong: Identifying tourist areas

(Baonghean) - One sunny autumn day, on the journey to the Western region of Nghe An, when the car had just passed Tra Lan, winding along the arc-shaped road to reach Phu Tuong land, I suddenly remembered the thoughts of Mr. Pham Trong Hoang - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee: "The district has many relics, destinations, and scenic spots. Many people used to know that Phu Tuong is the origin of Lam river, where there is a rare ancient cassia forest in the whole country... What a pity!".

The “great regret” of the Secretary of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee is that up to now, the district has not had enough conditions to take advantage of and exploit the tourism potential that nature has bestowed. I do not think that I know and understand everything about the land where the Nam Non River flows through, but surely many people will share with me the concerns of the head of Tuong Duong district.

Tuong Duong Palace Gate. Photo: Ho Phuong

Anyone who has ever stopped under the canopy of the casuarina forest has enough “intuition” to feel the attraction and allure of the forest with thousands of straight old casuarina trees as if trying to stretch their tops high to catch the light. This forest welcomes thousands of visitors every year, especially backpacking groups and young people. People talk about it, talk about it as a special “wonder” of the Western region of Nghe An.

But many people also wonder why the small-sized cassia forest on Tam Dinh land has not really brought about efficiency for tourism activities in Tuong Duong district. Many tourists coming here really want to explore, experience and blend in with the wildness of the immense forest. However, their only reality is: stop the car, take pictures, rest a little and then leave. Tourists want more than that. In fact, the leaders of Tuong Duong district also have the idea of ​​investing in a friendly service system to serve tourists in the small-sized cassia forest.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, in a meeting shared with us that, in the Tourism Development Project for the period 2017 - 2020, the district has identified the cajuput forest as one of the important highlights in the local tourism space. The district has also proposed to invest in building a service system at the end of the forest. Of course, these service works carry the local identity and are environmentally friendly. The above idea received the approval of relevant agencies, departments and branches, only the Department of Construction did not "approve" it for the reason of fear of impact, unsafety, and destruction of the original landscape...

Peach blossoms in Tuong Duong village. Photo: Dinh Tuan

But Tuong Duong is not only a place of the rare forest. This is also the starting point of the legendary Lam Giang river rich in sediments. That is when the Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers, after a long journey across Laos, reached the land of Cua Rao (Xa Luong commune) to merge to form the Ca river, a source of production and spiritual life imbued with the cultural imprint of Nghe An. Especially right at the river junction, there is the "reign" of Van - Cua Rao temple, where the famous general of the Tran Dynasty, Doan Nhu Hai, is worshiped, who had great merit in repelling foreign invaders, keeping the border safe and helping the people of Western Nghe An stabilize their lives.

Traditional stilt houses in the ancient village of Tung Huong, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: Ho Phuong

However, the reality is that Tuong Duong still has nothing "good enough". For example, why not build a type of experiential tourism with the waves on the river junction, to listen to the sounds of pi, dieu xap, dieu nhuon of the Thai people? Or participate in the type of adventure sport on the Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers? Identify...

Realizing the potential for developing the local smokeless industry, Tuong Duong district has built and issued a tourism development project for the period 2017 - 2020. In which, it is determined to exploit the local natural and human resources on the basis of linking the development of a culture imbued with the identity of ethnic minorities with the conservation and development of forest ecosystems...

After the project was issued, Tuong Duong District Youth Union "fired the first shot" by mobilizing youth union members to plant more than 2,000 peach bean (or cherry bean) trees in Khe Co, Quang Phuc village, Tam Dinh commune. Khe Co has long been known as a wild destination with a cool stream, very suitable for exploration and relaxation activities at any time of the year. The District Youth Union's mobilization of youth union members to go to the forest to collect peach bean trees to plant in Khe Co is a way to create more attractiveness for this area.

Young lady of Phu Tuong Palace with cherry pea flowers. Photo: Dinh Tuan

“The town of Bauhinia flowers” ​​- the idea that the leaders of Tuong Duong district have cherished for many years has finally been realized. Up to now, in Hoa Binh town, more than 1,000 Bauhinia trees have been planted along all the roads. In just a few years, people and tourists coming to Phu Tuong will be able to live in the space of the brilliant pink flowers that are the unique characteristics of the highland.

Tuong Duong cajuput forest. Photo: Ho Phuong

Identifying Phu Tuong tourist area, in addition to natural elements, there are also existential values ​​created by human hands. Tuong Duong has up to 5 hydroelectric projects, in which Ban Ve and Khe Bo hydroelectric reservoirs have many elements to exploit tourism activities. There is nothing more enjoyable than participating in tours on the blue lake and joining local fishermen to cast nets, fish and then process and enjoy them right in the middle of the immense waves.

Speaking of cuisine, the Lam Giang upstream area is not short of typical dishes. These include bitter bamboo shoots, sweet eggplant, wild chili, black chicken, young pig, bo giang, river fish, sausage, and more. Each type and each item, when enjoyed, has its own flavor. People can buy bo giang from the Mong people or choose sausage and young pig from the Thai and Khmu people. There are many opportunities to enjoy countless rustic dishes rich in identity when coming to this special land.

Dinh Thang Village, Tam Dinh Commune, Tuong Duong. Photo: Ho Phuong

Not only that, many residential villages in Tuong Duong are almost "ahead" of local leaders when they "approach" the needs of tourists to offer products made by themselves. Those are safe vegetable areas grown by hand in Phong village, Na Tong village (Thach Giam commune). I really like to come here and bring back water spinach, big tomatoes, melons, bamboo shoots and especially Tuong Duong mango.

Thus, there are so many wonderful things that nature has bestowed upon the land and people at the origin of the Lam Giang River - Phu Tuong in the past and Tuong Duong today. It is just that to make those potentials present closer to everyone, Tuong Duong needs more than that.

Dao Tuan - Nhat Lan