THAC XANG HYDROELECTRIC RESERVOIR: TOURISM POTENTIALS NEED TO BE AWAKENED.

(LSO) – Recently, the area of Thac Xang hydroelectric reservoir (Bac La commune, Van Lang district) is an attractive destination for national and international tourists. However, tourism in this area is spontaneous and doesn’t have proper attention and the right investment.

Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir is located in Hung Viet commune, Trang Dinh district; Bac La commune, Van Lang district and Hong Phong commune, Binh Gia districts, and the reservoir’s area is 300ha. Thac Xang hydropower plant started in April 2008 and finished in 2016. Especially, Thac May tourism attraction is located in the hydroelectric reservoir and Bac La commune (Van Lang district) with the untouched and sublime landscape. The cultural life, manners, and customs in Bac La commune are unique with ‘Then singing’, “Tinh Tau” (a handmade gourd lute), the singing of ‘Sli, Luon’ belonged to Tay and Nung ethnic minorities.

In 2 recent years, a lot of tourists have come to experience and explore the beauty of Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir and Thac May. Mr. Vy Van Quyet, The Secretary of Party Committee, Chairman of Bac La commune People’s Committee said: To exploit the tourism potentials of that area, the executive committee, the commune authorities have propagandized, encouraged people to preserve and promote our nation’s traditional and cultural values; encouraged the local to raise fish and take a business in the reservoir; fixed the roads from the commune center to the lake area, etc.

A corner of Thac Xang hydroelectric lake

The people also proactively exploited to develop tourism. Since the beginning of 2018, 3 households in Na Som village, Bac La commune have invested to buy motorboats to deliver tourism for visiting and eating service in the lake which brought income. Mr. Hua Van Doan (lives in Na Som village) said: “Since October 2019, my family has brought 3 motorboats and build a floated restaurant to serve tourists. Until now, tourists can visit the hydropower plants and Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir by motorboat, experience fish-raising model; travel to Thac May to swim, go a picnic, and fishing; travel to Van Tich market in Binh Gia district.

Accordingly, on the holidays and vacations, Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir attracts about 200 visitors per day. Mr. Nguyen Nam Son (Cao Loc town, Cao Loc district) said: ‘I like the untouched and sublime landscape of this area, the food here is also delicious, however, so pity that there are a few means of transports, services don’t diverse, the roads to the hydroelectric reservoir are quite deserted”.

It can be seen that, although Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir has many attractive eco-tourism resources, the development of facilities and tourism-service is not proportional to the resources, so that the hydroelectric reservoir has not attracted a huge number of visitors. To ignite the potentials, Van Lang district has cooperated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to examine the tourism potentials of Bac La commune and put the examination’s result into ‘The tourism development proposal of Van Lang district until 2025’ and the orientation until 2030. The proposal suggests the solutions for the tourism development of Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir in specific and Van Lang in general.

Mr. Hoang The Vinh, Vice Director of the provincial Lang Son Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that: to exploit the tourism potentials of Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir, the Department will advise The Provincial People’s Committee to have the specific measures and orientation such as: concentrating resources to build and develop tourism in that area, making hydroelectric reservoir tourism to be the provincial travel brand. Attaching to logically planning, exploiting tourism resources of the hydroelectric reservoir and nearby area; quickly finishing ‘The tourism development proposal of Van Lang district’ and on the basis to invest and attract investment to develop Van Lang to become tourist attractions with synchronous facilities and linking to other areas in the province.

It can be seen from the reality that the area of Thac Xang Hydroelectric reservoir needs strategic investors to research, build, and implement the projects about exploiting the potentials. To make it work, there will be the participation of all levels, sectors, and enterprises inside and outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Son (Cao Loc town, Cao Loc district) said: ‘I like the untouched and sublime landscape of this area, the food here is also delicious, however,…