Cu De River, which runs through Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, boasts great potential for inland waterway tourism development thanks to its beautiful and rich natural landscapes. Fully aware of this, local relevant agencies are mulling over developing the Cu De - Truong Dinh route which is scheduled to start from Lien Chieu District to Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District in service of the city's tourism enrichment targets.

The Da Nang authorities are seeking ways to tap fully Cu De River’s tourism development potential in the coming time.

Located in the northwestern part of Da Nang, the around 23km-long Cu De River starts to run from Hoa Vang District’s in Hoa Bac Commune through Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Nam and Hoa Hiep Bac wards.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, locations of tourist boat piers have been earmarked on the Cu De - Truong Dinh route. They are areas north of Nam O Bridge, the Ham Vang wharf, west of the expanded Golden Hills project (west of the Truong Dinh Bridge) and the Khe Ram area in Hoa Bac Commune. Till date, the local authorities have approved the detailed 1:500 zoning planning maps for these new piers providing anchorages for tourist boats in combination with offering trade services.

In an attempt to develop tourism spots and products on the Cu De-Truong Dinh route, the municipal authorities have given the green light to plans for developing tourist spots along the Cu De River. These sites will feature jetties, ticket counters, pick-up/drop-off points, restaurants, souvenir and agricultural product selling stalls, places for the reenactment of fishing village and the organisation of festivals.

Mr Dang Hoa, owner of the Han Giang tourist boat, said that Cu De River is one of the rivers to still retain the untapped features of nature, associated with many outstanding cultural and historical factors.

“If tourism is accelerated in combination with cultural and historical values, new products will be created to entertain both locals and tourists”, Hoa said.

The tourism expert also suggested that the local administration allow the resumption of the operation of small boats and canoes when the route is put into operation.

If connected with some tourist sites in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, the Cu De – Truong Dinh inland waterway route is expected to emerge as an attractive new tourism product. Here is a view of the Yen Retreat in Hoa Bac.

Vice Chairman of Lien Chieu District People's Committee Le Van Nghia said that the district authorities are paying attention to creating rest stops along the Cu De- Truong Dinh route.

The rest stops are expected to guide passengers to a number of current highly-inviting sites in Hoa Vang District such as Yen Retreat, Source Village, cable-stayed bridges. From here, the visitors can go through villages of Loc My, Ta Lang and Gian Bi in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District.

In the coming time, upgrade will be conducted on such places as the mysterious Ba Temple, the Thuy Tu communal house village, some vegetable yards, shrimp and fish farming areas.

Apart from the creation of the Cu De-Truong Dinh route, functional local bodies have conducted surveys on the debut of a trekking trails in Hoa Bac in combination with the exploration of the Co Tu ethnic minority group’s culture, hereby gradually lifting the collection of locally-developed tourism products to a higher level of richness and diversity for the sake of more tourism progress strides recorded in the coming time.

By NHAT HA-Translated by A.T