Cua Lo - The Year-Round Call of the Sea

Cua Lo, a coastal urban area situated at the eastern gateway of Nghe An Province, has long been celebrated as one of Vietnam’s finest beaches, featuring over 10 km of shoreline with fine sand, crystal-clear waters, and gentle slopes, making it both safe and brimming with potential for tourism development.

Following 118 years of formation, Cua Lo has evolved far beyond a simple seaside retreat. With its official transition to a city ward on July 1, 2025, and its status as an international trade gateway, this coastal hub is seizing new opportunities for a breakthrough. Notably, on January 30, 2026, at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2026), Cua Lo was honoured as an "ASEAN Clean Tourist City," marking a pivotal step toward green and sustainable development.

Cua Lo - A Journey of Unlimited Experiences

In 2026, Nghe An Province launched its first large-scale Cua Lo Tourism Festival with a year-long series of activities designed to promote its image and attract both tourists and investors. Mr Tran Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, noted that the Provincial Party Committee issued Notice No. 123, officially permitting the festival to run throughout the year rather than being confined to the peak summer season as in previous decades. This shift serves as a catalyst for Cua Lo to overcome the seasonal tourism prejudice, gradually creating a four-season roadmap where the city remains vibrant 365 days a year with its own unique characteristics.

Accordingly, the 2026 Festival features a diverse array of cultural, sporting, and commercial events. Radiant Summer promises to be an explosive season with the Nghe An Golf Tournament, the "In the Footsteps of Uncle Ho" Marathon, regional OCOP fairs, and a spectacular firework series at VinWonders Cua Hoi. Autumn in Cua Lo highlights the Sea Carnival, the North Central Culinary Festival, and soul-stirring performances of Vi-Giam folk singing. Winter Without Cold will offer unique winter products such as international jet-ski racing, Halloween and Christmas festivities, and cultural sea-experience shows. Finally, Flourishing Spring will invite visitors to experience traditional festivals, cultural heritage sites, and excursions to Ngu and Mat Islands.

The grand opening ceremony of the Cua Lo Tourism Festival 2026 will take place at 20:00 on April 25, 2026, at Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo Ward. Themed "The Essence of Lam Thuy," the event serves as the opening highlight, promising an emotional artistic space for this year's festival season.

Lam Thuy represents the confluence of the gentle Lam River and the vast East Sea. This blue essence is found not only in the water but in the memories and souls of the Nghe people. Through modern real-scene performances blended with Vi-Giam melodies, Cua Lo tells the story of ships cutting through waves, bustling fishing ports, and the aspirations of a young, humane coastal city. The opening night will be even more spectacular with a high-altitude firework display at the Ngu Island area to captivate visitors.

Quality as a Brand

To uphold its "ASEAN Clean Tourist City" title, Cua Lo has implemented rigorous urban management solutions. With an infrastructure of 205 hotels offering nearly 12,000 rooms, alongside modern upgrades such as 15 advanced shower stations, pristine beaches, and lush green walking paths, the city is ready to welcome domestic and international tourists.

Furthermore, Nghe An Province has established a Food Safety Control Board in coordination with Cua Lo Ward to conduct regular inspections of restaurants and hotels, ensuring there is no food safety negligence, overcharging, or traffic congestion.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Tran Xuan Cuong affirmed that Nghe An tourism will not stop at the coast but will expand to neighbouring areas such as Vinh City, Kim Lien, and Nam Dan. Currently, the Department is proposing to use the Ancient Citadel Moat (Hao Thanh) as a hub for developing new tourism spaces. In the immediate future, the province will focus on improving the water environment here to connect with Lam River tours and the Quang Trung King Temple, creating a series of unique cultural and historical tourism products.

Mr Thai Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, stated that with fresh ideas and a methodical plan for the 2026 Festival, visitors will find Cua Lo both novel and deeply satisfying. The province continues to act as a bridge for businesses to create products that are locally authentic yet international in stature.

With a target of 5.2 million visitors and 5.4 trillion VND in revenue for 2026, this four-season coastal city is ready to welcome the world with hospitality and excellence.

Cua Lo today is transforming into a modern destination, asserting its brand as an "ASEAN Clean Tourist City"- a safe, friendly, and pioneering destination for green and sustainable tourism.