Concerns of Mang Den

The Pa Sỹ waterfall tourist site (Măng Đen commune) has temporarily closed due to landslides, causing concern among accommodation and food establishments about a potential drop in visitors, especially with the two peak tourist seasons of Tet (Lunar New Year) approaching.

Floodwaters inundated the Pa Sỹ waterfall tourist site on November 22nd. Photo: People's Committee of Mang Den Commune .

Due to the impact of prolonged heavy rain causing a major landslide, several infrastructure items at the Pa Sy waterfall tourist site in Mang Den commune ( Quang Ngai province) were seriously damaged on November 22nd.

Landslides have occurred, blocking several sections of the stream. Worryingly, the landslide has created a sheer cliff resembling a "land bomb," posing a potential safety risk to tourists. Since November 24th, the Mang Den Commune Public Service Center has been closed for repairs.

Pa Sy Waterfall is considered a tourism "anchor" point in Mang Den, attracting thousands of visitors due to its natural scenery, easily accessible location, and popularity in short tours.

The Pa Sỹ waterfall tourist site is currently closed. Photo: Hoang Long Farm.

Homestays fear being left with few customers.

As Mang Den enters its peak year-end season, the closure of Pa Sy Waterfall has caused concern among local tourism businesses that tours will be harder to sell due to the removal of a signature destination. Accommodation and food establishments are also anticipating a decrease in customers and planning strategies to stimulate demand.

On travel forums and groups about Mang Den, some tourists have indicated that they will temporarily postpone their trips, waiting until Pa Sy Waterfall reopens.

According to Bao Long, manager of a homestay on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (formerly Kon Plong), about 5 km from Pa Sy Waterfall, guests have reduced their length of stay due to their inability to visit this tourist attraction. Occupancy rates during the New Year holiday have slowed slightly, currently only around 50%, about 20% less than the same period last year.

"Tet is approaching, and most guests choose my homestay because it's near Pa Sy waterfall. I'm worried I'll lose revenue," he said.

Tourists relaxing at a homestay in Mang Den in November 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh.

According to Hoang Chinh, the owner of a hotel on Vo Nguyen Giap Street (Mang Den commune), the main revenue comes from renting rooms and selling day tours. However, when Pa Sy waterfall was replaced with the three-tiered waterfall (formerly in Mang Canh commune), the number of tourists buying tours slowed down because the new waterfall is far away, requiring more travel time.

"There haven't been any room cancellations or changes of bookings yet, but they tend to stay for short periods of 1-2 nights, mainly visiting the center of Mang Den before returning. A decrease in revenue is unavoidable. When the waterfall reopens, I will upgrade the tour and offer promotions to compensate," he expressed.

Food establishments share similar concerns. According to Nguyen Sinh, owner of a Central Highlands specialty restaurant (Pham Van Dong Street, former Kon Plong district), about 40% of her customers are groups or individuals traveling from Pa Sy Waterfall, so she has anticipated a potential drop in customers. Furthermore, due to the unpredictable weather this year, she has been buying ingredients sparingly to balance staff and rent costs.

Pa Sy Waterfall is approximately 40-45 meters high and is formed from three main streams in Mang Den. Photo: Phuong Tali.

Meanwhile, Phuoc Nhan, who specializes in providing tours in Mang Den, believes that people shouldn't rely too much on this waterfall, as the small commune has many other ideal destinations such as pine forests, Dak Ke Lake, Kon Tu Rang suspension bridge, etc. While waiting for Pa Sy waterfall to recover, he plans to organize light trekking activities, dinner by the campfire, and camping.

"The removal of the highly anticipated tourist attraction has somewhat dampened their enthusiasm. But I hope this period will be a time when tourists will see Mang Den as a resort destination. They will come and stay because of the climate, the overall scenery, and the people," Nhan said.

Local authorities are awaiting assistance.

Mr. Pham Van Thang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Mang Den commune, said that Pa Sy waterfall has been identified as an important tourist highlight of Mang Den. He is concerned that if Pa Sy waterfall has to temporarily cease operations through the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays in 2026, it will directly affect the peak season and tourism revenue of the commune.

"Continuous rain has damaged tourist attractions such as the gazebos, memorial house, and arched bridge. The commune has allocated funds to excavate the soil and rocks, level the slopes, and clear the waterways. The closure notice cannot yet specify a reopening date due to the significant cost of repairing the landslides and restoring the landscape," he told Tri Thuc - Znews.

The commune has submitted a proposal to the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, requesting funding for repairs. If supported, the commune will expedite construction, ensuring completion and reopening the tourist site before the Lunar New Year 2026.

Earlier, on November 24th, Mr. Do Tam Hien, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, personally inspected the landslide site at Pa Sy waterfall.

Source: https://znews.vn/lo-ngai-cua-mang-den-post1612672.html