Cua Lo town is sporting a new look to welcome the 2023 tourist season.

Many new highlights

The changes are clearly visible in the area around the foot of Cua Hoi Bridge - Nghi Hai ward - the bridge connecting the town.Cua LoWith its connection to Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, and the coastal highway, Cua Lo has become densely populated; many new restaurants and tourist service facilities have been built. The tourist area of ​​Cua Lo has expanded. The scene is now lively and bustling, a stark contrast to the deserted and desolate atmosphere of previous years.

The Cua Hoi Bridge connects Cua Lo town with Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province. Photo: Thanh Cuong

From the southernmost point of Cua Lo town, heading north, it's easy to see many new shops and restaurants opening along Binh Minh road (currently being widened to 7.56m to the east), especially in the Nghi Hoa and Nghi Huong wards. These establishments have completed their renovations and are now well-equipped. In anticipation of the new tourist season, residents have joined the town in cleaning up, beautifying, and planting more trees on the sidewalks to create a green, clean, and beautiful environment.

More shops and restaurants have sprung up in the Nghi Hai - Nghi Hoa ward area. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Located right by the sea, the Cua Hoi Entertainment and Recreation Area Project, spanning 195.5 hectares and with a total investment of 4,000 billion VND, is being rapidly constructed by Vingroup. This is considered a highlight in the future development of tourism.

The project is divided into 8 functional zones located on the mainland and off Ngư Island: a cable car across the sea; a service area including a food street and night market; a water park, amusement park, beach sports area, mountain climbing and sliding track around the island, a beach off Ngư Island, restaurants; a 5-star hotel… (similar to the Vinpearl model in Nha Trang). The project has completed the cable car line across the sea to Ngư Island, with a length of over 3.5 km. It is expected that on April 30, 2023, this cable car line will be put into operation along with other services off Ngư Island, enriching the entertainment and recreational options for tourism.Cua Lo.

Vinpearl Cua Hoi luxury resort. Photo: Archival material.

Right at the intersection of the 72m road and Binh Minh road, countless sea daisies – the symbolic flower of Cua Lo town – are in full bloom, showcasing their beauty. This is a beautiful check-in spot that Cua Lo town has been creating for the past two years. And it's not just at this intersection; everywhere in the town, from the roadside to the grounds of restaurants and hotels, sea daisies are planted in abundance and carefully tended, adding a new highlight.

Sea daisies are grown in many places in the coastal town. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

To the west of Binh Minh Square, many new restaurants have opened. These new restaurants are not only located along the main road but also along the side streets (alleys 3 and 4). This has given the coastal tourist town of Cua Lo more depth. Restaurants and tourist service establishments are now spread out, expanding the space and potential for development, instead of being heavily concentrated along Binh Minh Street as before.

The new restaurants are not only located along the main road but also on side streets and alleyways. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Previously, restaurants and food service kiosks were mainly concentrated on the eastern side of Binh Minh Street, obstructing the view from Binh Minh Street to the sea. In line with the policy of developing a beach that meets the requirements of being "modern, unique, distinctive, friendly, and economically efficient," in 2022, Cua Lo Town cleared 209 restaurants and kiosks on the eastern side of Binh Minh Street.

And soon after, the town granted construction permits for nearly 150 restaurants located in prime locations for food and beverage businesses on the west side of Binh Minh Street. Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, the owner of a restaurant in Thu Thuy ward, said: "When the relocation plan was announced, my family fully agreed and cooperated with the town. Moving to the new location will have both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are the synchronized investment in technical infrastructure and the good location… Hopefully, more customers will come to our restaurant."

After being cleared, Cua Lo beach is now much more spacious. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

In the beach area north of Sunrise Square, the scenery has changed. The beach is now spacious, with endless stretches of golden sand and gentle waves, creating charming curves. Locals and tourists have more space and a closer connection to the sea. The remnants of old shops and stalls have been cleared away. Lush green trees have been neatly trimmed. Sixteen freshwater showers, inflatable float rentals, and public restrooms (originally restaurants and kiosks that have been retained) have been renovated and repainted to serve locals and tourists who come to swim at the beach.

The streets have become clean and beautiful; a new lighting system has been installed. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Before the 2023 tourist season, not only were the roads connecting Binh Minh Street to the beach renovated and the sidewalks replaced, but the inner city roads west of Binh Minh Street were also upgraded and improved by Cua Lo Town, with investment in green spaces and street lighting. The streets became cleaner, more beautiful, and more vibrant. Many more entertainment and recreational facilities and restaurants opened.

Fresher and more modern

On the roads, many new four-wheeled electric vehicles have appeared, purchased by businesses to serve tourists. It is known that, to date, 194 businesses in the town have registered to purchase new electric vehicles. The town has organized two training courses, providing electric vehicle drivers with basic knowledge and skills in communication and interaction with tourists. Drivers are also introduced to historical sites, scenic spots, and landmarks in the town, enabling them to better introduce these to tourists visiting Cua Lo.

Freshwater showers, inflatable float rentals, and public restrooms have been repaired and repainted. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Ready to welcome tourists for their holidays, hotels in Cua Lo town are "awakening" after their winter slumber; they are decorating brightly; recruiting new staff and providing advanced training to improve service quality. At this time, Cua Lo town has over 300 hotels serving 30,000 tourists day and night. Seizing this new opportunity, many hotels have invested in building more rooms to provide a complete "food and accommodation" package for tourists. Ms. Ngo Thi Tu, owner of Thanh Tu Hotel, shared: After the kiosks on the beach were cleared, anticipating the tourist season, the hotel has built more rooms, upgraded the dining area, and expanded the meeting hall…

The hotels are ready to serve tourists. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

In the northern part of the town, at the end of Binh Minh road, many new houses have been built. This section of road has been planted with many oil palm trees, creating a beautiful setting for photos. A special feature is the grand and impressive Nghi Thuy Craft Village entrance gate. The gate serves as a greeting from the ancient fishermen to tourists, offering them a glimpse into the unique traditional culture of the craft village and its historical and cultural relics; it also clearly demonstrates the town's determination to develop year-round tourism. Nghi Thuy Craft Village is now bustling with activity, producing seafood specialties as souvenirs for visitors from near and far. It is known that a tour guide club has been established in Nghi Thuy ward, ready to assist tourists in exploring their homeland.

The restaurants have prepared a full selection of seafood to serve customers. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

The Bình Minh Square and Nguyễn Sinh Cung street (in the center of Cửa Lò town) are bustling with tourists before the opening of the new tourist season. Along Nguyễn Sinh Cung street – where pedestrian zones and music performances are held on weekends – a dazzling array of decorative lights has been installed. The seawall near Bình Minh Square, offering scenic views for visitors, has also been renovated. A large stage has also been erected to serve the Cửa Lò Tourism Opening Week 2023.

Regarding the transformation and breakthroughs in Cua Lo, Mr. Le Trong Nghia, a tourist from Hanoi, commented: "Cua Lo has been gradually transforming into a fresher place. The planning and reconstruction have helped Cua Lo become a modern coastal town that is also close to nature. The tourist space is expanding, and there are more entertainment and recreational services. I believe that before long, Cua Lo town will become a world-class town, reaching the same level as Nha Trang and Vung Tau…"

The coastal town of Cua Lo seen from above. Photo: Canh Hung

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, said: "2023 is a pivotal year for the coastal tourism town to make a breakthrough with a new look. During this year, the town is focusing resources on planning, investment, and urban beautification. Currently, the town is concentrating on leveling and clearing the land in the forest park area east of Binh Minh road. Consulting units are developing plans and submitting them to competent authorities for approval to transform this area into a modern, world-class forest park, amusement park, and entertainment area to attract tourists… The town is also strengthening its efforts to promote and attract investment in large-scale projects to drive the development of tourism in Cua Lo."

Cua Lo beach is ready for the festive season. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong.

Determined to build the Cua Lo tourism brand as "Bright, Green, Clean, and Beautiful"; "Safe, Friendly, and Hospitable," the town continues to strictly manage the operation of four-wheeled electric vehicles, jet skis, team-building activities on the beach, bars, karaoke establishments, etc.; and implements comprehensive solutions to strictly adhere to the "5 No's" policy. Aiming for year-round tourism, the town has developed specific products to promote and attract tourists. Accordingly, the summer will focus mainly on beach bathing and relaxation. Spring will invest in exploiting cultural and spiritual tourism. During the autumn and winter seasons, accommodation establishments in the area will reduce room rates, creating promotional campaigns to attract tourists.

Thanh Chung