Removing the "bottleneck" at Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area

The investment in lighting system helps resorts in Thanh Son commune have more opportunities to develop.

For a long time, Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area has been mentioned as a green tourist destination of the province, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists because of its pristine beauty. However, one of the "bottlenecks" of tourism here is the traffic infrastructure and safety conditions on some sections of Route 521C. If Pu Luong peak is about 1,700m above sea level, Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area through Thanh Son commune is about 1,200m above sea level, so there is often dense fog, limiting visibility, posing a potential risk of traffic safety. Along with that, there is no lighting system, so the organization of night tourism services here has long been limited.

In order to promote tourism development, in 2024, the Provincial People's Committee approved the investment policy for a lighting project through Thanh Son commune, with a total length of 2.4km (from Pu Luong Bocbandi Retreat resort to Central Hill Pu Luong), drawn from the provincial Tourism Development Program budget. The project was implemented quickly, suitable for the terrain characteristics of the mountainous area. At the end of February 2025, the project was completed and officially put into operation. Now, the lights have contributed to ensuring the safety of people and tourists when traveling on the road, and tourism activities have also become more bustling. Resorts, homestays or restaurants scattered on both sides of the road now have guests coming in the evening, creating new vitality for a destination that used to be quiet every sunset.

Director of Pu Luong Eco Garden Resort (Thanh Son Commune) Do Duc Manh excitedly said: “This is what our tourism service businesses and local people have been looking forward to for a long time, marking a new step in the development of Pu Luong tourism. Previously, tourists coming to Pu Luong mainly visited during the day, and in the evening they often stayed at their accommodation to enjoy the cuisine and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, many tourists want to go for a walk, breathe the fresh air at night or visit other tourism service providers, but dark roads pose a potential safety risk. Since the lighting system was invested in, business activities have become more bustling. Hopefully, when the infrastructure is taken care of, along with the efforts of businesses and the community, it will contribute to spreading the image of safe and attractive Pu Luong tourism to a large number of tourists”.

It is known that since the lighting system was put into use, at Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area, the section passing through Thanh Son Commune, a number of tourism service businesses have been developed, promoting the start-up wave, expanding service development, and increasing experiences in the community. Along with that, the destination also received more positive feedback from tourists. Some tourists said that taking a walk in the evening helps them fully experience the beauty of Pu Luong mountains and forests, prolonging the joy in the journey to explore this destination.

Vice Chairman of Ba Thuoc District People's Committee Lo Van Thang said: "The lighting system on route 521C, the section through Thanh Son commune is one of the items prioritized by the province to implement, with a total cost of 6.7 billion VND, to promote tourism development. Not only helping to ensure traffic safety, the project also has great significance in promoting the night-time economy, creating motivation for people to develop diverse tourism services, contributing to improving the quality of services and experiences for tourists when coming to Pu Luong. In order to improve the capacity to welcome and serve tourists, in the coming time, Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area really needs to pay attention to investing in the technical infrastructure system. The focus is on upgrading a number of traffic routes; building rest stops; waste treatment systems; ensuring stable power supply for tourism service businesses... This is also an important basis for the destination to promote investment attraction, effectively exploiting the potential of tourism associated with with the conservation and promotion of the value of natural resources and indigenous culture".

With the attention of all levels, sectors, local authorities and the participation of the whole community, Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area is now gradually transforming itself, becoming an ideal destination for a large number of tourists, especially international visitors. In the long stretch of pale yellow lights, along with the sound of babbling streams and the scent of grass and trees wafting in the wind, visitors coming here will surely feel the peace in the new rhythm of life. It is the rhythm of faith that makes Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area a bright spot on the national tourism map.

Article and photos: Hoai Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/go-nut-that-o-khu-du-lich-sinh-thai-cong-dong-pu-luong-246801.htm