As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic was under control, tourism in the northern mountainous province of Son La recovered and has gradually resumed its growth. Tourist destinations there have seen a significant increase in the number of visitors.
Moc Chau tea hills offers a favorite destination for visitors to Moc Chau Plateau. (Photo: VOV)
Even in the middle of the week, the number of visitors to Moc Chau National Tourist Site in Son La province is very high.
Phan Ngoc Hoang, Sales Director of the Phuong Hoang International Tourism Development Company in Moc Chau district, said that since Vietnam reopened to foreign visitors, the pine forest tourist area of Áng village has been crowded, with up to 1,000 people a day.
In the second quarter of this year the resort welcomed more than 1,800 overnight guests and 18,000 visitors, said Hoang in total.
He added, “To better serve visitors’ needs from now until the end of this year, our company has added more accommodations and check-in points. We’ve also improved ourservice of picking up and dropping off passengers by electric car and added a tent service to meet the demand in Moc Chau peak season from October to the end of April.”
According to Nguyen An Dai, Deputy Director of the provincial Museum, besides promoting the museum’s collection of documents and artifacts illustrating the life of ethnic minority groups in Vietnam’s northwestern region during the war years, the museum plans to upgrade its displays with audio-visual devices and a new sound and lighting system.
Since April, the Museum has shared with 85,000 visitors the history of Son La Prison, a special national relic, Dai said.
“Son La Museum has updated its display and exhibition system, focusing human resources on providing narration at every relic and every cultural or spiritual venue under our management,” said Dai.
Tourists visit the special national relic of Son La Prison. (Photo: baosonla.gov.vn)
So far this year Son La has received nearly 2 million visitors, up 300% from last year, bringing in 52 million USD in revenue.
Tran Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the high number of visitors can be attributed to comprehensive programs and activities in which the sector encouraged provincial leaders to adopt tourism growth policies once the pandemic was under control.
Viet said, “Son La province has outlined plans to guide tourism service providers, areas, and sites to improve service quality, prepare adequate facilities for tourists, and stimulate tourism by launching new products.”
He took the Moc Chau National Tourism Site as an example, saying “Soon after the pandemic was controlled, the Guinness- recognized Bach Long Glass Bridge was opened, which immediately attracted crowds of tourists.”
This year, Son La hopes to receive 3.2 million tourists. To that end, its tourism sector is exploring new markets, accelerating digital transformation, and increasing promotion on digital platforms and social networks.
Tran Long
