The poetic landscape of Yên Trung Lake in the northern province of Quảng Ninh. Photo baoquangninh.com.vn

Mai Kim Thúy

The picturesque and tranquil landscapes around Yên Trung, the biggest freshwater lake in the northern coastal province of Quảng Ninh's Uông Bí City, have become a must-see for nature-loving tourists from across the country.

Located by National Road 18A connecting Hà Nội with Hạ Long City, about 5km from Uông Bí's famous Yên Tử heritage site, Yên Trung Lake is about 100ha and surrounded by mountains and forests.

Unspoiled, spacious, with charming natural scenery, including islets in harmony with soaring pine hills, the area around the clear blue lake has been likened to a "little Đà Lạt", referencing the summer resort town in the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng.

Before the pandemic, during peak times, Yên Trung Lake welcomed thousands of tourists every day, according to a report on the website of Uông Bí City.

The Head of Uông Bí's Culture and Information Department, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Giang, said the number of visitors to Yên Trung Lake reached nearly 80,000 by October of 2020.

Recently, after fully reopening for tourism, Yên Trung Lake has continued to welcome thousands of tourists who get the same feelings of satisfaction and wish to return to the beautiful location.

Hoàng Trọng Hưng, a tourist from Hà Nội visited Yên Trung with a group of friends last weekend.

Experiencing a full day of camping by the lakeside, Hưng was impressed with the natural beauty, which he said still retains many wild features.

"The quiet open space of the lake helps us separate from the hustle and bustle of the city life. We got lost in a completely different world. Very natural and peaceful," Hưng said.

Near Yên Trung Lake, there are many beautiful and unique spots, such as Paradise Garden, Love Bridge, and the pine hills.

Hưng also praised the lake as an ideal destination for those who love nature and tranquil and poetic spaces.

However, he said that the lakeside resort did not have many services to meet tourist demands.

"For example, there is no tent rental service for tourists, and food is not abundant and convenient, so we had to prepare everything from home," he said.

Nguyễn Hoàng Anh Thơ from Hải Phòng City said she recently had a memorable experience with her family at the lake. 

"Through friends and search on the internet, my family found Trung Yên an ideal for a short holiday," according to Thơ.

"Indeed, the natural landscapes here are great for relaxation. Our family had memorable moments while walking along the lakeside under the pine trees, resting on the grass and breathing in the fresh air. The wild beauty around the lake is precious."

She hopes authorities and businesses will pay attention to boosting investment in the areas to improve tourism services.

"If this place gets more investment in building entertainment complexes and increases the tourism services, it can attract more visitors especially children and young people," she said.

Awakening potential

A recent report published on the Uông Bí City website said tourism activities in Yên Trung were occurring spontaneously without a specific development plan.

The report noted that Yên Trung Lake was recognised as a provincial tourist area that has been welcoming many tourists in recent years.

"Awakening the tourism potential of Yên Trung Lake and turning it into a tourist magnet is necessary to raise the local people's living standards and to bring a stable source of revenue for the province," experts say.

According to them due attention must be paid to better management of the local tourism industry and more investment in building high-quality accommodation. Public ecological parks should also be built, taking advantage of ecotourism to attract domestic tourists and those abroad to visit and take a longer vacation.

Realising the abundant but abandoned potential for tourism development around the lake, the government last November included Yên Trung on the list of national projects calling for foreign investment in 2021-2025.

Visitors ẹnjoy the beauty of Yên Trung Lake. Photo uongbi.gov.vn

This is regarded as a great opportunity for provincial and local authorities to boost tourism for Yên Trung Lake, contributing to the development and diversification of tourism in Uông Bí City, the report said.

Since Quảng Ninh Province's decision in 2019 was issued to recognise the lake as a provincial tourist area, the Uông Bí City People's Committee has taken full responsibility for managing and organising tourism activities.

Initially, several infrastructure projects were built for tourism development, including a public lighting system, a domestic water supply system, protective fences, land roads and parking lots at tourist spots. 

Currently, several more local households have joint businesses that provide services such as tent rentals for camping, hospitality and accommodation.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Yên Trung Lake welcomed between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors a day during the peak of the tourism season.

If well-managed, the lake will undoubtedly continue to be one of the tourist draw in the region. VNS

Overnight camping by Yên Trung Lake is a popular activity. Photo uongbi.gov.vn