Mang Den needs a "push" to change

With a cool climate all year round, vast pine forests, majestic waterfalls and clear blue lakes, Mang Den ( Quang Ngai ) is an ideal destination for those who want to find nature, tranquility and peace.

However, after many years of being referred to as a “rough gem”, this place is still struggling to find a way to become a truly attractive, professional and sustainable destination.

Symphony of Silence

In the middle of the Central Highlands, where pine forests rustle in the wind and fog covers the way every morning, there is a small town named Mang Den. Not noisy nor hurried, the town is like a sleeping muse, gentle and pristine, waiting for a light touch to awaken.

Mang Den is located at an altitude of more than 1,200m above sea level, with a cool temperate climate all year round, surrounded by primeval forests and a system of natural lakes and waterfalls. Destinations such as Pa Sy waterfall, Dak Ke lake, Dambri lake, Violak pass... are not only beautiful but also have a quiet beauty that makes people want to stop, take a deep breath and listen to their hearts.

Homestays under the pine trees, mornings of cloud hunting at the Xanh Yen coffee shop or afternoons of watching the sunset on the grasslands of the 37-household area are all truly slow-living moments. Many young people choose Mang Den to temporarily leave the city and find a connection with nature and themselves.

Indeed, Mang Den is not a place to “check-in” and then leave. This is a place to live slowly, to feel every step on the red dirt road, every ray of sunlight through the pine trees, the sound of the stream babbling in the old forest. Visitors can join trekking tours to K50 waterfall, hunt clouds on Violak pass, camp by the lake or experience indigenous culture with the Mo Nam and Xo Dang people…

Come to Mang Den and enjoy the cuisine here, although not sophisticated, but rich and authentic. Grilled chicken served with green pepper salt, grilled bamboo rice, A Kay snakehead fish noodle soup, rice wine… all have the flavor of the mountains and forests. The dishes are not only delicious but also tell stories about the land, the people, and the culture.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai ( Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "I like the way people here offer wine like a ritual. They not only offer wine, but also offer intimacy. Everything here is very wild, but very close to people. I learned how to calmly face myself, as well as watch nature more quietly."

Unduplicable advantages

Located on the Kon Plong plateau, Mang Den is known as the "second Da Lat" of the Central Highlands with its rich primeval forest ecosystem, fertile land and diverse natural landscape.

Destinations such as Pa Sy waterfall, Khanh Lam pagoda, Mang Den Mother of God pilgrimage center… all have wild beauty, not yet commercialized. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom all over the town, creating a romantic scene no less than Da Lat.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh from Ho Chi Minh City said: "I came to Mang Den in the rainy season, the weather was cold, the air was fresh. There are many delicious mountain specialties here, and the accommodation is also convenient. It's just a pity that the service is still sketchy. If it were invested more systematically, it would bring a better impression to tourists."

In fact, accompanying services such as room booking, car rental, tour guides, tourist maps, local transportation or experiential tours are still lacking and fragmented. Despite the potential, it seems that this place lacks a flexible tourism ecosystem; services have not been digitized and connected.

Therefore, a Mang Den tourism application that integrates information, schedules, service bookings, etc. will be a necessary step to create highlights and attract tourists to return. Mr. Tran Van Hung, a tourist from Da Nang city, said that he rented a motorbike to explore on his own, but many places did not have clear signs. Some places like Pa Sy waterfall are very beautiful but there are no guides or information about history, culture, etc.

With a forest cover of over 80%, Mang Den is the “green lung” of the Quang Ngai highlands. However, rapid development has led to the risk of encroachment on public land, illegal construction and violation of planning. Local authorities have taken strong measures to handle violations and at the same time implemented the planning of Mang Den airport to expand regional connectivity.

Currently, Mang Den is facing a great opportunity to develop eco-tourism, resorts, spiritual culture and experiential agriculture. To do that, a systematic strategy from the local government, the participation of businesses and the community is needed.

Tourism experts say Mang Den needs to have a clear tourism space plan, develop regional transport infrastructure, train local human resources and build unique tourism products.

LUONG TUNG

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/mang-den-can-cu-huych-de-chuyen-minh-390975.html