Cửa Bạng is undergoing a transformation!

In the southernmost part of Thanh Hoa province, alongside the peaceful, rustic, and simple corners of Lach Bang with its unique cultural space, lies the bustling Nghi Son Economic Zone, which is developing day by day...

A corner of Lach Bang in Hai Thanh ward, Nghi Son town.

Ancient charm along the Bang River

Lạch Bạng Estuary is located in the southeastern coastal area of ​​Nghi Sơn town, Thanh Hóa province. The Lạch Bạng River (also known as Bạng River by locals) originates from Huôn Mountain in Phú Lâm ward, flows around the foot of Du Xuyên Mountain, and empties into the sea, situated between Hải Bình and Hải Thanh wards, forming the estuary. The name of the river, "Bạng," is combined with the name of the estuary, "Lạch," to form Lạch Bạng.

It's been a long time since I last had the chance to return to this salty coastal area. The Bang River is still wide and long, winding around Du Xuyen Mountain (in Hai Thanh ward), and on the right bank of the Bang River is a gently sloping, fine white sand beach, like a picturesque landscape painting, a beautiful scene that captivates the heart...

With careful observation, we can easily sense the rustic and simple charm inherent in this place. There are the women and mothers who still daily rake for clams and catch mussels; the boats lined up after days at sea returning laden with shrimp and fish; the ferry landing connecting the two banks of the Bang River (Hai Binh ward with Hai Thanh ward); and the ancient and sacred Lach Bang Temple with its annual Fishing Festival held at the beginning of April in the lunar calendar...

To cross the Bang River, I boarded a small ferry. The ferry was rowed by an elderly woman named Thanh. Ms. Thanh whispered, "I take passengers whenever I have them, then later I'll go with the other women to collect clams and mussels... There's plenty of work here, the only problem is there's nothing stable." On the small, swaying ferry, we weren't the only small boat on the wide stretch of river; there were also larger ships docking and unloading cargo after days at sea.

Not far from where I am standing is the temple dedicated to King Quang Trung, built in the late 18th century. This temple, dedicated to the national hero, is situated with its back against the mountain and overlooking the Bang River. With its cultural and historical value, the Quang Trung temple festival in Lach Bang and Cu Lao Bien (Bien Son), Hai Thanh ward and Nghi Son commune (Nghi Son town), has been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It can be said that the landscape of Cua Bang, with its scenic beauty, historical sites, and festivals rich in national cultural identity, has been shaping a region with a rich and distinctive traditional culture...

Transforming every day

Besides the traditional cultural features of the Bang estuary area, it is easy to see the bustling Nghi Son Economic Zone developing day by day. Modern factories and enterprises have been, and are continuing to be, a driving force behind the development of commercial services, accommodation, and other related industries, providing jobs for thousands of local workers. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuong, Chairman of the Nghi Son Commune People's Committee, could not hide his joy when talking about the transformation of the island commune. While previously, the lives of the people in the commune mainly depended on the traditional, unstable marine economy, there is now a strong shift. The number of local workers employed in the Nghi Son Economic Zone is 1,200, and nearly 1,000 are involved in tourism services at restaurants and resorts in the area. As a result, the lives of the people here are constantly improving, and the appearance of the locality is changing day by day.

According to Mr. Le Van Thang, Director of the Thanh Hoa Fishing Port Management Board: The traditional fishing industry at Lach Bang estuary still plays a significant role in the overall development of the locality. Statistical data from the first six months of 2024 at Lach Bang Fishing Port shows that: 1,431 vessels entered and left the port, with 3,631 tons of seafood unloaded. Lach Bang Fishing Port also provides employment for 1,500 local workers, with incomes ranging from 7-12 million VND per person per month.

In the overall transformation of the estuary region, it would be remiss not to mention the development of the potential and advantages of coastal tourism. Recognizing this as a key sector, Nghi Son town has been focusing on trade promotion and attracting investment to develop tourism infrastructure. Priority is given to the development of the Quang Trung - Lach Bang historical site complex, the Bien Son scenic area, and the Truong Lam cave complex. The tourism target for 2024 is for Nghi Son town to have 115 accommodation establishments, with 10% rated 2-4 stars; 75% of tourism service workers to receive professional training... aiming to welcome over 1.2 million visitors, with total tourism revenue exceeding 2,300 billion VND.

Hopefully, with the efforts of the local authorities in utilizing the potential and advantages from the sea, in the not too distant future, this coastal area of ​​Bang will become one of the highlights of socio-economic development in the southernmost part of Thanh Hoa province!

Text and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cua-bang-chuyen-minh-220754.htm