Many cultural events, festivals, and fairs will be held in Sam Son City this year to attract tourists.
One prime example is that, previously, tourism in Sam Son mainly revolved around swimming and enjoying seafood, but in recent years, there has been a "transformation" with a greater focus on commercial and entertainment services. The formation of pedestrian streets, the Sam Son night market, and coastal entertainment complexes has made the area more vibrant, especially in the evenings. According to statistics from the Sam Son City People's Committee, after expanding the commercial service system, the number of returning tourists to Sam Son has increased, and revenue from services other than accommodation has also seen impressive growth.
Currently, Sam Son is preparing for the 2025 summer tourist season – the time of year when it welcomes the largest number of visitors. Many food and entertainment establishments have begun upgrading their facilities and expanding their scale to better serve the needs of tourists. Pedestrian streets and night markets are also expected to have more new stalls and a wider variety of products. According to Ms. Tran Thi Mai, owner of Hong Thanh seafood restaurant in the Sam Son beach area: “Summer is the best time for business, and this year the city also has many plans to organize cultural events and festivals to attract visitors. If the commercial service system is invested in more heavily, tourists will certainly have a better experience and stay longer.”
Not only in Sam Son, but several other tourist areas in Thanh Hoa are also focusing on investing in commercial service systems to meet the increasing demands of tourists. A prime example is the Pu Luong eco-tourism area – which previously mainly developed based on homestay and trekking models, but recently has added many attractive services such as shops selling traditional handicrafts, weekend tourist markets, and tours experiencing the Thai ethnic culture... These innovations not only help improve service quality and increase revenue for the tourism industry but also create more jobs for local people. Ms. Ha Thi Lan, owner of a brocade fabric production facility in Pu Luong, shared: “Previously, we only wove fabric for daily use, but since more tourists have visited, we have opened a small shop to showcase our products and organize weaving workshops for tourists. This not only helps preserve the traditional craft but also brings a more stable income to our family.”
It is evident that, with proper investment, the commercial service system not only enhances the tourism experience but also yields significant economic benefits. However, alongside these successes, Thanh Hoa still has ample room for further development in this sector. Currently, many other tourist areas in the province, such as Hai Tien (Hoang Hoa), Hai Hoa (Nghi Son town), Cam Luong sacred fish stream (Cam Thuy), or spiritual tourism destinations like Song Temple (Bim Son), Phu Na (Nhu Thanh), Lam Kinh Historical Relic Area (Tho Xuan), and Chin Gian Temple (Nhu Xuan)... have not yet fully exploited their potential from commercial services. Therefore, to create unique appeal for these tourist areas, relevant departments and localities need to develop comprehensive and detailed plans to develop the market, diversify tourism products, and promote the value of historical relics and culture.
Furthermore, improving the quality of food services is also crucial. Thanh Hoa boasts a rich culinary tradition with many specialties such as fermented pork rolls (nem chua), sticky rice cakes (bánh gai), rice flour cakes (bánh răng bừa), and fresh seafood. However, currently, most food businesses are small-scale, lacking uniformity and failing to focus on branding. The addition of professional restaurant chains and food streets showcasing local specialties would undoubtedly attract more tourists to spend more.
Overall, investing in commercial service systems in tourist areas not only helps elevate Thanh Hoa's tourism but also plays a crucial role in local economic development. As commercial services expand and are upgraded, tourists will have richer experiences, longer stays, and higher spending. This is key to making Thanh Hoa not only a beautiful destination but also an attractive destination in terms of services, contributing to enhancing the province's tourism position on the Vietnamese map.
Text and photos: Chi Pham
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phat-develop-the-commercial-service-system-in-tourist-areas-243016.htm







