New vitality for Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area

Local people, local authorities and management agencies of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area are working together to overcome difficulties in planning, resources, implementation of an unprecedented cross-border cooperation model, and people's initial fear of change; unanimously strengthening management to ensure security and order, improving the quality of tourism in the Ban Gioc Waterfall area and opening up new livelihoods and development space for local tourism.

Coming to Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area this time, visitors will see a new, fresh and brilliant appearance, no longer shabby, messy, shabby stalls, nor do they see local people running after tourists to sell goods, but instead there is a natural, pristine landscape at the foot of the waterfall and the service area with neat and orderly stalls.

Previously, there were many shabby and messy stalls selling goods in the Ban Gioc waterfall area...

Due to the lack of synchronous infrastructure, the trading activities of the people are still spontaneous and not systematically organized, leading to the landscape at the foot of the waterfall being somewhat messy and unkempt, affecting the aesthetics, order and experience of tourists. This is an inevitable consequence of a natural development process, when people both earn a living and gradually adapt to a new profession - tourism services.

Previously, in this area, the people of Ban Gioc lived along the border, earning a living by traditional occupations such as farming, raising livestock, and seasonal work. When the Ban Gioc waterfall area began to be exploited for tourism, the people also wanted to have more income by setting up temporary tents to sell souvenirs, soft drinks, renting horses for photography, serving visitors at the entrance to Ban Gioc waterfall, the area at the foot of the waterfall and selling goods on rafts on Quay Son river, seriously affecting the landscape of the Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area, not only creating an unpleasant image but also hindering the travel and sightseeing of tourists.

Now coming to Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area, visitors will see a fresh look, no longer the messy stalls selling goods like before.

Up to now, the local people, authorities and the Ban Gioc waterfall management agency have unanimously implemented many measures to ensure security, order and improve the quality of services at the Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area.

Specifically, the Project "Strengthening management and ensuring security and order, improving service quality in Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area" has been implemented, clearly defining the principles: rectifying order but ensuring livelihoods for people; re-planning the space for reasonable use, arranging business areas in the right places so that people can continue to earn a living in an orderly and civilized manner; at the same time closely linking with the work of ensuring security and safety for tourists and preserving the image of the border tourist area.

A more spacious service area has been arranged, old stalls have been moved to new sales locations for the people, a new parking area has been organized and electric cars have been used to pick up and drop off tourists along the prescribed routes; a waste collection area has been arranged... This is a particularly positive change, gradually turning Ban Gioc waterfall from a domestic tourist destination into an international destination - one of the typical models of border tourism exploitation in Vietnam.

The Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area organizes a new parking area and picks up and drops off tourists by electric car along the prescribed route.

According to international travel agencies that are transporting tourists back and forth between Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) and De Tian (China), the green - clean - beautiful landscape at Ban Gioc Waterfall has now received positive feedback from Chinese tourists and partners. This not only changes the perception of Cao Bang but also enhances the image of Vietnamese tourism in general in the international arena.

"Now, looking from above, Chinese tourists can see the entire majestic natural landscape of Ban Gioc waterfall, without the messy, unsightly tents like before. Street vendors and rafts on the river have decreased, demonstrating professionalism and civilization in tourism development at Ban Gioc waterfall," said a company specializing in serving Chinese tourists at Ban Gioc waterfall.

Tourists can comfortably sightsee and check-in at Ban Gioc waterfall area.

Cao Bang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism assessed that the newly built service area ensures good sales conditions for people and creates aesthetics for the tourist area; the organization of routes for tourists to go through the service areas has a positive impact on people's psychology, as well as creating jobs, livelihoods for people and convenience for tourists.

The area at the foot of Ban Gioc waterfall has become more airy, clean, synchronous and civilized for the entire tourist area, especially enhancing the image and professionalism of tourism activities at Ban Gioc waterfall with international visitors, in the context of implementing the Cooperation Agreement on protection and exploitation of tourism resources of Ban Gioc waterfall (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China) and the activity of transporting visitors back and forth between Ban Gioc waterfall landscape area (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China).

Support people's livelihoods, better serve tourists

Tourists admire Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam.

Mr. Hoang Thai Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang said that with the goal of supporting the people as much as possible, and accompanying and joining hands with the people, the authorities have had many dialogues with the people of Ban Gioc hamlet to grasp the situation, listen to the recommendations, proposals and aspirations of the people, thereby promptly directing, resolving and removing the existing problems, limitations, difficulties and obstacles related to the rights and legitimate interests of the people in the process of building and implementing tourism development at Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area.

In the coming time, we will continue to coordinate in organizing propaganda activities, mobilizing people and businesses to comply with regulations on environmental protection, landscape preservation, and building a culture of civilized behavior in tourism business to ensure effective maintenance of order, safety and service quality at tourist destinations.

Organizing the transportation of tourists by electric cars creates a new experience for tourists during their visit to the tourist area, giving them a feeling of relaxation and comfort, reducing pollution from emissions or noise, as well as being able to admire the surrounding landscape. Using electric cars to transport tourists is also in line with the trend in many tourist areas and destinations in the country and around the world, thereby gradually building the image of green tourism, friendly to the environment, helping to enhance the attraction of Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area.

Using electric cars to pick up and drop off tourists is in line with the trend in many tourist areas and destinations in the country and around the world.

Step by step improve and enhance local tourism

Currently, there are still some difficulties and problems in managing and developing tourism services at Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, especially during peak seasons when the number of visitors suddenly increases at a time.

During the recent April 30 – May 1 holiday, the number of tourists coming to Ban Gioc waterfall along with the number of vehicles, from family cars to 29-seat – 45-seat passenger cars, increased dramatically, many times higher than normal days. Some vehicles did not enter the parking lot according to the traffic flow but still went down to the waterfall gate area, despite the regulation of the authorities. Some households spontaneously encroached on the sidewalk, organizing parking for vehicles near the gate of the tourist area.

Due to traffic congestion, some trams were unable to move and could not reach the waterfall gate area to pick up passengers back to the parking lot, resulting in some visitors having to walk even though they had purchased tram tickets and had bad experiences.

Starting from May 16, 2025, the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area Management Board will arrange a ticket sales point at the new parking lot.

The Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area said that the unit has increased the coordination of security forces in coordination with the traffic police, the communal police and local authorities to regulate traffic at congested intersections. After more than 1 hour of efforts by the forces to regulate the flow of vehicles, the congestion was basically cleared, vehicles began to move again, and then the electric car could also approach the waterfall gate area to pick up passengers. At the same time, the Management Board has proactively arranged additional officers and employees to be on duty at key locations to support guiding tourists and handle arising situations. Coordinate with the electric car operator to find a way to verify and support refunds for cases where the service cannot be used due to force majeure.

Starting from May 16, 2025, the Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area will arrange a ticket sales point at the new parking lot to facilitate visitors in purchasing tickets (about 2km from Ban Gioc Waterfall towards Cao Bang city, on route Km175+500, National Highway 4A, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province).

Along with that, the Management Board of the Tourist Area will receive feedback from tourists and commit to overcome shortcomings, improve service quality, and ensure a positive experience for tourists when coming to Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area. However, the work of strengthening management to ensure security and order, and improving the quality of tourism in the Ban Gioc Waterfall area still requires the consensus of the people and regular and continuous coordination from businesses and authorities.

Hainan/VOV.VN

Photo: Ban Guoc Waterfall Tourist Area Management Board

Source: https://vov.vn/du-lich/tu-van/suc-song-moi-cho-khu-du-lich-thac-ban-gioc-post1198769.vov