The stature of a coastal tourist city

• August 28, 2014 10:33

(Baonghean) - Cua Lo today has a new stature: a young, dynamic, civilized, modern urban area, and an attractive sea and island tourist destination,... On the occasion of the Town's 20th anniversary and receiving the First Class Labor Medal, Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Doan Tien Dung, Chairman of the Town People's Committee, about building Cua Lo into a sea tourism urban area under the direction of theDeputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Bãi biển Cửa Lò. Ảnh Xuân Nhường
Cua Lo Beach. Photo by Xuan Nhuong

Reporter:Every land and village has its origin and roots, and Cua Lo is known for many anecdotes. Could you tell us more about the history of the formation of Cua Lo?

Mr. Doan Tien Dung:Before becoming the youthful and vibrant town it is today, Cua Lo was a small and poor village on the East Sea coast, formed by the alluvium of the Cam River that was diligently deposited over the years, connecting with the alluvium of the Lam River in the South. This is an ancient coastal land formed long ago, with many easily recognizable features: Located on the east of the old main road (now National Highway 1); is a large, long stretch of golden sand. Through a number of surveys, it has been shown that in the past, this was an ancient sea area.

Một góc Thị xã Cửa Lò.
A corner of Cua Lo Town.

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Regarding the place name "Cua Lo", it was previously just the proper name of a river flowing into the sea like many other river mouths in our country. This river mouth is where the Cam River flows into the sea with the Nghi Thiet commune mountain range undulating on the left bank and Nghi Thuy ward on the right bank. In April 1986, Cua Lo became the name of a port and tourist town in Nghi Loc district, including the area and population of two communes Nghi Tan and Nghi Thuy (now Nghi Tan and Nghi Thuy wards) and a part of the land of two communes Nghi Thu and Nghi Hop (now Nghi Thu ward). In August 1994, the place name Cua Lo became the proper name of the town on the basis of the previous Cua Lo town, plus the land of some other communes of Nghi Loc district. Thus, from a proper name to indicate a river mouth flowing into the sea, Cua Lo has become the proper name of an administrative unit. According to the current explanation of local people, "Cua Lo" is a distorted and shortened way of saying the previous name "Cua Lua".

Reporter:To become the young and dynamic coastal town it is today, Cua Lo has gone through many ups and downs, with what memorable marks, sir?

Mr. Doan Tien Dung:On April 4, 1986, the Council of Ministers issued Decision No. 37 to establish Cua Lo Town on the basis of the area of ​​Nghi Thuy and Nghi Tan communes and part of Nghi Thu and Nghi Hop, but due to the socio-economic characteristics of the potential coastal area, a project to upgrade Cua Lo from a town to a town was formed. In the Technical Economic Proposal of the Nghe An Provincial Institute of Construction Planning and Design, the need to upgrade the town to a town was also mentioned.

On August 29, 1994, the Government issued Decree 113/ND-CP on the establishment of Cua Lo Town with a structure of 5 wards (Nghi Hai, Nghi Hoa, Nghi Thuy, Nghi Tan, Thu Thuy) and 2 communes (Nghi Thu and Nghi Huong). Starting from a low point, the physical and infrastructure conditions are still poor, the intellectual level of the people is uneven, and urban management experience is limited... On December 14, 1994, the Provisional Executive Committee issued Resolution No. 03 setting out the goal of "Building Cua Lo Town into an economic and defense center of the province; a modern tourist and resort city, of national and international regional significance. At the same time, fully exploiting the potentials to develop the economic sectors of ports, services, transportation, transit, agriculture, fisheries and small-scale industry". After one year of implementation, Cua Lo has achieved positive results: Tourism, services, and trade grew rapidly, with production value reaching 53.9 billion VND (up 29.6%); agricultural, forestry, and fishery production reached 39.1 billion VND, down 0.6%; industry and basic construction increased quite well, with production value reaching 42.2 billion VND, up 152%. Attention was paid to urban infrastructure, with investment projects for hospitals, cemeteries, high schools, and administrative headquarters completed... cultural and social aspects initially achieved some good results, people's lives were stable, and national defense and security were strengthened.

After 4 Party Congresses, each period Cua Lo has taken on a new stature. And after 20 years of construction and development, the urban appearance is more spacious and modern: In 2009, Cua Lo was recognized as a type III urban area; 100% of inner-city and inter-village roads are concreted and asphalted; Cua Lo has become the top growth pole of Nghe An province: Service and tourism structure accounts for 62.5%; agriculture, forestry and fishery account for 5%; industry and basic construction account for 32.5%. The tourism brand is affirmed in the national urban tourism system: From the first days of establishment, the town only welcomed 105 thousand visitors, revenue of 19.4 billion VND, with 7 accommodation establishments; But up to now, Cwat Lo welcomes over 2 million visitors every year, with revenue of approximately 1,600 billion VND, with 265 accommodation establishments, many hotels with 1-5 star brands, meeting the needs of tourism activities.

Culture and society have developed remarkably: Up to now, the whole town has 91% of cultural families, the system of cultural, information and sports institutions has been invested synchronously from ward to block; 97% of schools meet national standards; 100% of people can watch television, use clean water and electricity for lighting. The rate of poor households is below 5% compared to the early days of establishment of 30%; every year, over 1,000 workers have jobs and stable income. Health care for the people has always been of concern, the rate of malnourished children has decreased to 14%. The material and spiritual life of the people has been constantly improved. Up to now, the average income per capita has reached 55 million VND, 9 times higher than in 1994 and 3 times higher than in 2004. National defense and security work has been strengthened, the political system has achieved the title of excellent and strong for many years. In recognition of these achievements, Cua Lo was awarded the Second Class Labor Medal by the President in 2009 and the First Class Labor Medal in 2014.

Reporter:One of the important directions of Cua Lo is to rapidly and sustainably develop the potential of sea tourism along with preserving and developing traditional industries. Over the past time, Cua Lo tourism has gradually affirmed its brand in the hearts of tourists and international friends?

Ngư dân phường Nghi Thu chuẩn bị ra khơi.Ảnh: T.H
Fishermen of Nghi Thu ward prepare to go to sea. Photo: TH

Mr. Doan Tien Dung:Cua Lo today has a new appearance: dynamic, modern but still retains the charm and simplicity of the fishermen of the coastal fishing village. Coming to Cua Lo, tourists can freely choose the means of transport: road, rail, waterway and air, all fast and convenient. Currently, Cua Lo has 248 accommodation establishments with 6,577 rooms, 13,434 beds, ensuring service for 18,200 guests/day and night; 20 accommodation establishments meet 1-4 star standards, meeting the activities and organizing international events. Effectively promoting the potential and advantages of a coastal town, in 2013, Cua Lo linked with 60 travel agencies, introduced and welcomed 250 international tourist groups to stay in the town; Established 16 effective tours and routes, highly appreciated by tourists such as: Cua Lo - Ngu Island, Cua Lo - Vinh - Kim Lien relic site, Cua Lo - Vinh - Cau Treo - Laos, Cua Lo - Vinh - Thailand... Thereby attracting more than 2.1 million visitors to Cua Lo, tourism revenue reached 1,460 billion VND...

Every year, the investment in tourism projects alone has reached billions of VND, including many projects that have become "highlights" for Cua Lo tourism such as Binh Minh Square, Sports Stadium, 18-hole golf course project associated with hotels and luxury motels of Sea Golf Company, Trang An Confectionery Factory, Vinamilk Milk Factory, etc. Especially in 2014, the town has attracted many large projects such as the Hotel, motel, apartment, and supermarket complex project of Muong Thanh Group, which is currently under construction and expected to be put into use in 2015; The project "Lan Chau - Song Ngu Eco-tourism Complex, Resort Villas, Sports, Entertainment" is planned on 3 land plots in Cua Lo Town, including: Lan Chau island area, Nghi Hoa land area, Ngu island area with an area of ​​nearly 130 hectares, the total investment for the project is nearly 1,800 billion VND. Hopefully the project will bring many economic and social benefits, create jobs for thousands of local people, and aim for 4-season tourism. As a young, dynamic and modern town, Cua Lo still preserves many traditional occupations to serve tourists. That is a sustainable step that Cua Lo is aiming for.

Reporter:To move towards a young, dynamic, civilized, modern urban area, becoming an attractive sea and island tourist destination, what are the town's orientations in the coming time, sir?

Mr. Doan Tien Dung:The current problem of Cua Lo is the need for a truly scientific planning, synchronous policies for development and high consensus to turn potential, human resources and material resources into products. For Cua Lo to develop sustainably, it is necessary to focus on the following contents:

Firstly, continue to implement Directive 03 on promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's moral example. Build a clean and strong Party and political system. Attach importance to and strengthen political and ideological education. Innovate and improve the leadership capacity of Party committees at all levels, of cadres and Party members.

Second, focus on developing the economy in the right direction, including strongly developing service industries, especially tourism; build Cua Lo in the direction of a coastal tourism urban area as planned by the Prime Minister, affirming its brand in the coastal tourism urban system of the whole country. Develop agriculture and fisheries in the direction of commodities, creating many products for tourism.

Third, focus resources to attract investment, speed up the implementation of construction projects serving tourism and social security. Improve the quality of planning and management of tourism development planning. Supplement and adjust the master plan for tourism development in Cua Lo until 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Fourth, create a strong change in the cultural and social fields: improve the quality of the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life", mobilize all resources to synchronously invest in cultural, information and sports institutions at the town level; combine the development of cultural, artistic and festival forms to serve the people. Build a truly cultured and civilized Cua Lo people.

Fifth, build a strong national defense and security foundation. Strengthen education and propaganda to raise awareness and vigilance among officials and people. Do a good job of protecting sea and island security, closely combining economic development with strengthening the potential of national defense and security.

Reporter:Thank you!

Thanh Thuy