When sports become a "boost" for tourism - Cao Bang Electronic Newspaper

In recent years, Cao Bang has emerged as a destination rich in experiences thanks to the combination of tourism and sports. Large-scale sports events such as running, cycling, etc. taking place amidst majestic mountains and rivers not only create a playground for athletes but also strongly spread the image of the borderland. When sports become a way to explore the landscape and local culture, Cao Bang tourism opens up new and more sustainable development opportunities.

Cao Bang has been promoting tourism through sporting events, attracting a large number of athletes and tourists to explore the local natural beauty.

Considered the “green pearl of the Northeast”, Cao Bang has long been known as a land rich in natural potential. With a terrain mainly of high mountains, steep passes, deep valleys, rivers and streams flowing around, along with a rich system of historical and cultural relics, this place is not only suitable for eco- tourism and cultural tourism , but also an ideal land to develop sports tourism such as trekking, cycling, rowing, mountain climbing, cave exploration, etc. Realizing that potential, the province has proactively organized tournaments and events, while developing infrastructure to turn sports experiences into attractive tourism products.

The Ultra trail race "Non nuoc Cao Bang Non nuoc" has been held regularly in the province in recent years and has become one of the most attractive sports and tourism events in the Northern region. The competition routes are not only carefully designed to ensure professional sports elements, but also go through outstanding landscapes such as Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ban Viet lake, terraced rice fields and ethnic villages, giving athletes and tourists the opportunity to experience the wild nature mixed with the unique cultural identity in the lives of the ethnic people here. The event is not only about sports but also has cultural and tourism elements because through each step, many athletes and tourists have witnessed firsthand the daily life, customs, local cuisine and the friendliness and hospitality of the local people, creating truly vivid and memorable experiences.

Participating in the Ultra Trail Race “Non Nuoc Cao Bang” in 2024, athlete Hans Antonio Molina Fleming from Chile said: I have participated in many mountain running races in Asia, but Cao Bang gives me a very different feeling. The scenery here is spectacular and still wild, the people are friendly, the local food is also very delicious. I will definitely come back, not only to run but also to explore other destinations in this beautiful land.

According to the plan, the 2025 "Non Nuoc Cao Bang" Super Trail Race will continue to be held from November 28 to 30, 2025. The race will gather a large number of athletes, tourists and sports lovers to explore the natural beauty and local culture. Being the 4th consecutive year of being held, the event has affirmed its position as one of the prestigious trail races, and at the same time become an important highlight in the development of experiential tourism in the province, contributing to promoting the image of a dynamic, friendly and hospitable Cao Bang to a large number of athletes as well as domestic and international tourists. This is a soft way to promote tourism potential, without ostentation, but with real and sustainable experiences.

In addition to trail running and cycling, both road and terrain have been exploited by Cao Bang to become sports tourism products in recent years. Regional-level racing competitions such as the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Cup Cycling Race, the Cao Bang Open Cycling Race, etc. have also become typical examples of the combination of sports and tourism promotion, attracting hundreds of athletes from many provinces and cities in the country to participate. Through these events, the image of Cao Bang is widely promoted, helping to attract not only sports enthusiasts but also tourists who want to explore the highlands and participate in rich physical experiences. Mr. Dao Van Nghia, an athlete from the Viet Bac Thai Nguyen Cycling Club, shared: The race in Cao Bang is really impressive. The race track is not only challenging with long, winding slopes through mountains and hills, but also very beautiful with majestic natural scenery. I feel that each cycling lap is both a physical challenge and an experience to explore the culture and landscape of the province. If I have the chance, I will come back to try other stages and spend more time exploring tourist attractions I haven't had the chance to experience.

Athletes immerse themselves in nature at the Cao Bang Non Nuoc Super Trail Run.

The regular organization of major sports tournaments has created a boost for the province's tourism industry. Tourists do not just come to sightsee, take photos, and simply relax, but also to challenge themselves, experience nature, and immerse themselves in the sports atmosphere. Tournaments require synchronous infrastructure from roads, accommodation, food to medical support, tour guides, etc. This also leads to the development of local services. Homestays, motels, restaurants, transportation services and tour guides have the opportunity to serve new visitors, thereby forming community tourism products associated with sports experiences.

Sports competitions also help promote the image of Cao Bang more strongly than traditional propaganda. Photos of athletes running between clouds and mountains, cycling beside waterfalls, or crossing traditional villages are widely spread on social networks, shared directly from real-life experiences, making Cao Bang more familiar and attractive in the eyes of tourists. Many athletes, after returning, shared their experience videos, attracting hundreds of thousands of views. The spread on social networking platforms not only promotes the location, but also inspires the community to participate in sports, explore nature, and plan experiential trips. This effect has opened up a new approach, helping Cao Bang not only become a resort destination but also a dynamic experiential land, suitable for modern tourism trends, with long-term promotional value, contributing to building the Cao Bang brand as "Sports and experiential destination".

In addition to promoting tourism through large-scale sports tournaments, Cao Bang is proactively developing tourism combined with sports experiences, turning destinations into attractive exercise spaces for tourists. Many tourist areas have invested in infrastructure and organized activities associated with natural landscapes, helping tourism experiences become more dynamic and lively. At the same time, the province also coordinates with local communities to train tour guides, provide homestay services, organize traditional games and develop mass sports movements, both improving community health and creating a foundation for sustainable experiential tourism products, combining exercise with exploring nature and indigenous culture.

Cao Bang with its mountains, rivers, cultural relics and national identity is now being “fueled” by sports. When sports activities spread to roads, streams, waterfalls and villages, Cao Bang is not only a place to visit, but also becomes a land of challenges, experiences, discoveries and community connection. Sports have become a new driving force, helping Cao Bang tourism develop in a diverse, attractive and sustainable way.

In order for sports to become a driving force for sustainable tourism development, the province needs to continue to invest synchronously in infrastructure, from roads, accommodation facilities, food and beverage services, healthcare, to ensuring safety for athletes and tourists. Along with that, diversifying sports tourism products with large-scale tournaments, widely promoting the image of Cao Bang as a dynamic and unique experiential destination. If synchronous investment, widespread promotion and maintenance of unique traditional identity, Cao Bang can completely become one of the top destinations in Vietnam for experiential, sports and adventure tourism. And each trip to Cao Bang will not only be a trip, but a journey to surpass oneself, so that when leaving, visitors will bring with them not only images of mountains and rivers, but also memories, experiences, the breath of mountains and forests, of people, of challenges.

Thuy Linh

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/khi-the-thao-tro-thanh-cu-hich-cho-du-lich-3182744.html