Nature’s gift

Popular tourist destination Cua Lo Beach at night Recognized as one of the Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches by the World Tourism Organization, Cua Lo is a tourist hot spot.

The summer season in Cua Lo in Nghe An Province, half way between Hue and Hanoi, has just begun with a warm welcome for beach lovers. Only 18 km from the provincial capital Vinh, Cua Lo Beach is well known for its smooth sand and sparkling sea. Cua Lo town’s main drag is Binh Minh Street. With hotels on one side and a natural casuarina forest on the other, the road is shaded all day. In an effort to preserve the town’s natural beauty, hotels must be low and stilt houses peak out from behind the trees. Just a short boat ride from the beach are two islands – Lan Chau which is 1 km to the north-east and Ngu (Fish) Island 4 km offshore. These two islands protect Cua Lo beach from heavy storms and strong winds coming in from the East Sea. Ngu Island is riddled with trails inviting visitors to wander for hours. The captain summons passengers back with a bell and ferries them to a floating village specializing in ca gio, a fish weighing up to 5 kg whose meat is as white and tender as lean pork. The fishermen, who raise ca gio in submerged cages, hope to relocate further out to a 300 hectare area west of Mat (Eye) Island, a move they expect will lure more tourists. The nearby Quynh Nhai Island group, 20 km from the beach, has many small, picturesque islands. Once in Cua Lo, besides swimming and sun-bathing, tourists can visit islands by boat, climb the mountains, dive, and visit historic and literary sites such as Nguyen Xi Temple in Nghi Hop Commune and Trung Kien Pagoda in Nghi Thiet Commune. Founded in 1994 with only eight hotels and limited services, the Cua Lo Beach town has developed rapidly. The town now has modern infrastructure, transport, and entertainment venues. Over 200 hotels and guest houses can serve some 13,000 visitors per day. Tourists can travel to Cua Lo by air, train, sea, or car. Reported by Thu Hien