With a total investment of over 16,234 billion VND, a scale of over 167
hectares, and a target of welcoming approximately 3 million visitors per
year, the U Bo Mountain - Thac Chuoi Lake Eco- tourism, Resort and
Entertainment Complex Project is expected to create a new tourism hub,
expanding the space and attractiveness of Quang Tri tourism.
Where mountains, lakes, and historical memories meet
U Bo Mountain is located at an altitude of over 1,000m, amidst the
mountainous forests of western Quang Tri , a region with a cool climate, a
natural forest ecosystem, and roads steeped in the legendary history of the
Truong Son Mountains. At the foot of the mountain lies Thac Chuoi Lake, a
reservoir with a capacity of nearly 33 million cubic meters, serving both
agricultural production and water supply purposes, while also creating a
vast ecological space.
This is a key differentiating factor of the U Bo Mountain - Thac Chuoi Lake
Project. While Quang Tri tourism has long been strongly characterized by its
beaches, natural heritage, and cave systems, U Bo - Thac Chuoi can add a
product at high altitude, combining relaxation, ecology, recreation, and
nature exploration.
This area is also located on the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail ,
connecting to landmarks associated with the 20th Victory Road, the Eight
Girls' Cave, and many other traces of the route and the legendary Truong Son
mountain range. If properly organized, a trip to U Bo - Thac Chuoi could be
more than just a relaxing getaway amidst the mountains; it could also
connect with a world natural heritage site, historical and cultural tourism,
and a journey of memories.
The project, approved for investment in March 2026, is located in the
communes of Bo Trach, Thuong Trach, and Truong Son. According to the plan,
the complex includes a hotel, resort villas, serviced apartments, a
commercial and service area, entertainment facilities, and five cable car
lines connecting the foothills to the summit of U Bo.
The target of approximately 3 million visitors per year is noteworthy.
Compared to Quang Tri's target of 10.5 million visitors in 2026, the
projected scale of U Bo - Thac Chuoi alone is equivalent to nearly 30%.
However, it is unclear whether the project will automatically increase the
province's total visitor numbers by 3 million, as some tourists may already
be visiting Quang Tri and simply changing their destination with the
addition of this new attraction.
What people should be more concerned about is whether the project will
generate new customer traffic, encourage longer stays, increase spending,
and consequently boost business and service activities in other areas.
Historian Dr. Nguyen Khac Thai argues that U Bo - Thac Chuoi should not be
viewed as a separate, independent destination. Current tourism trends demand
the integration of regional resources, destination linkages, and service
development. Therefore, the project's value can only be fully realized when
placed within a larger framework, connecting the natural landscape with the
historical and cultural values of Quang Tri.
Visitors to U Bo - Thac Chuoi not only enjoy a relaxing vacation but can
also continue exploring the Truong Son Mountains, the Highway 20 Quyet
Thang, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage Site , and other
historical, cultural, mountainous, and coastal destinations in the area. By
establishing interconnected itineraries, the project can contribute to
longer stays for tourists, increase spending, and create opportunities for
many localities and businesses to participate in the tourism value chain.
Thai emphasized that the overarching principle for U Bo -T hac Chuoi must be
sustainable development, in which the landscape ecosystem, tourism products,
and linkages between destinations must all be built in a sustainable manner.
Quang Tri Province assessed that large-scale tourism projects are of
significant importance to the province's development and requested relevant
agencies and units to focus on completing procedures and resolving obstacles
to ensure the projects are implemented on schedule. Regarding the U Bo
Mountain - Thac Chuoi Lake project, the province is striving to complete all
necessary conditions to commence construction in October 2026.
Placed within the province's tourism development plan, U Bo - Thac Chuoi is
therefore seen not only as a major investment project, but also as a test of
its ability to create a new product with sufficient appeal to complement the
existing system of destinations.
U Bo - Thac Chuoi is not simply a resort but aims to be a complete tourism
complex. Once operational, the project could create significant demand for
transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, commerce, experiential
services, and tourism personnel; thereby creating opportunities for
businesses and local people to participate more deeply in the value chain.
This is also why the project can be located next to tourist attractions that
has previously been developed at Ba Na Hills or Fansipan. At these
destinations, the cable car system not only solves the access problem but
also becomes part of a larger tourism product, linked to relaxation,
entertainment, services, and experiences.
However, U Bo - Thac Chuoi presents a unique and more challenging problem:
the need to balance exploitation and conservation. The appeal of this place
lies in its mountains and forests, the natural landscape of the Phong Nha -
Ke Bang World Heritage Site, Thac Chuoi Lake, and the legendary historical
Truong Son mountain range.
According to the project documents, the total area to be implemented is
approximately 167.48 hectares, of which the planned forest conversion area
is about 158.61 hectares, including more than 148.25 hectares of natural
forest. This is an issue that needs special attention during implementation.
An ecotourism project will find it difficult to create sustainable value if
the very resources that make the destination attractive are damaged.
Quang Tri province also witnessed a "missed opportunity" with the idea of a
cable car in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage site. In 2014, a
survey of a cable car plan to Son Doong Cave, with a proposed length of
approximately 10.6 km and an estimated investment of 4,500 billion VND.
However, this plan was not included in the national park's planning at that
time due to the need for further research, evaluation, and consultation with
specialized agencies, UNESCO.
More than a decade later, the cable car story returns with the U Bo
Mountain-Thac Chuoi Lake Project, but in a different context and approach.
However, the biggest challenge remains not how many people can be brought up
the mountain, but what value can be created from that influx of visitors.
If each tourist only visits U Bo - Thac Chuoi and then leaves, the impact on
the tourism economy of Quang Tri province will be limited. Conversely, if U
Bo - Thac Chuoi becomes the starting point or connecting point in the
journey to explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang, the Truong Son road, historical and
cultural destinations, and coastal areas, the project could create a longer
chain of experiences and extend the length of stay.
At that time, 3 million visitors was not just a figure representing
operating capacity. The greater value lay in the number of new visitors
generated, the increased length of stay, higher spending levels, and the
revenue spillover to businesses and people outside the project area.
Therefore, U Bo - Thac Chuoi could become a new "flagship" and "driving
force" for Quang Tri tourism, but this "flagship" and "driving force" should
not be determined solely by the scale of capital or the number of cable car
lines. It must be proven by its ability to create a distinctive tourism
product, attract new tourists, and connect the many values of Quang Tri
today. Only then will the more than 16.234 billion VND invested in the
project truly become a "flagship" and "driving force" that will spread
throughout the entire area, enabling tourism in Quang Tri province to take
off.
Source:
New tourism vision linking big attractions of Quang Tri
