Thai Nguyen pushes multifaceted tourism strategy

The tea industry can appeal to tourism if marketed effectively

Thai Nguyen is the gateway between the Red River Delta and the mountainous part of the north, connecting Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, and Bac Giang with Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, and Lang Son.

Since the new National Road 3 linking Hanoi with Thai Nguyen came into operation in 2014, the time it takes to travel between the two localities has been shortened to 80 minutes. Travelling the 50 kilometres between Thai Nguyen and Noi Bai International Airport has become much more comfortable and convenient.

Thai Nguyen is a booming socio-economic hub of the region, with iconic industries producing steel, iron, and tea. In addition to these industries, it has great potential for tourism – possessing beautiful natural features, alongside relics of the country’s wars against French colonial rule and American incursions.

Phuong Hoang Cave, Mo Ga River, and Nui Coc Lake hold a natural beauty that will awe tourists. For the more historically-minded, Dinh Hoa Safety Zone, where President Ho Chi Minh and leaders of the revolution directed the war against French colonial rule during 1946-1954, is hard to miss.

The highlight of tourism in the province is the Nui Coc Lake tourism complex, which the province is working to turn into a national tourism focus, according to the prime minister-approved master plan.

Nui Coc Lake, at the foot of the Tam Dao Mountain Range, was built in 1973. It has a surface area of 2,500 hectares, with beautiful scenery and a calm and pure atmosphere suitable for ecotourism and religious tourism.

According to the provincial plan, by 2020 the Nui Coc Lake tourism complex will encompass 19,000ha across Dai Tu and Pho Yen districts. It will consist of a sports complex, shopping and entertainment facilities, a golf course, a new administrative zone, a residential township, and a protected forest.

According to Vu Hong Bac, Chairman of the Thai Nguyen People’s Committee, developing the Nui Coc Lake tourism complex is high on the local authorities’ agenda.

In order for the tourism area to grow to its full potential, the province is hoping to attract VND8 trillion ($360 million) in infrastructure investments. The work that’s needed includes water and power supply networks, transport infrastructure like provincial roads 261, 267, and 270; roads near the lake, bus and cable car systems; a boat port and a helicopter airport, and tunnels going through Tam Dao Mountain, linking the Tam Dao area of Vinh Phuc with Nui Coc Lake.

Though recent tourist arrivals to the province are not high, they have been steadily increasing thanks to regular promotional activities. There is a promotion that concentrates on ecotourism – themed “Thai Nguyen- Destination for Eco-resort Tourism” – and an international tea festival. There is also a long-term effort to co-operate with the five other provinces of the Viet Bac region on collaborative tourism.

Viet Bac, dubbed ‘the capital of the revolution’, served as the Viet Minh base of support during the war against French colonial rule. The six provinces in the region – Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Ha Giang – can best capitalise on this potential by receiving support from professional tourism investors. Through co-operative efforts, they’ve held food fairs, expos, conferences, and traditional music performances to celebrate their cultural heritage.

In the near future, Thai Nguyen plans to have tourism among the three drivers of its economic growth, in addition to its strengths in high-tech agriculture and manufacturing. The province hopes to welcome more investors to develop tourism and infrastructure projects there, and help Thai Nguyen grow to its full potential.