(HBO) - Mai Chau is an ideal destination for tourists because of the natural scenery, people and the unique features of customs and practices of Thai and Mong ethnic groups, etc. In the past, Mai Chau tourism thrives, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and explore. To gradually affirm the position of Mai Chau tourism on Vietnam's tourism map, Mai Chau district is gradually aiming to develop high quality tourism with tourism products, service quality, etc.
Tour guides exchange professional occupation
and professional skills to improve communication skills, towards the satisfaction
of tourists. Photo taken in Hich village, Mai Hich commune (Mai Chau).
The district pays special attention to the
preservation and promotion of the ethnic cultural identity. The district
restores and organizes traditional festivals such as: the Xen Muong festival of
the Thai ethnic group, the Gau Tao festival of the Mong ethnic group, etc. The
community tourism sites must strictly implement the regulations on the
preservation of the ethnic culture, such as: keeping the stilt houses;
welcoming clothes must be national costumes; the service prices must comply
with regulations, etc.
Besides, the district is interested in
building specific tourist products. The district gradually establishes the
international, inter-provincial, inter-regional, intra-provincial,
intra-provincial and intra-regional tourist routes.
The whole district has 574 workers in tourism
field, of which there are 2 postgraduate qualifications, 48 at university
level, 50 people at college level, 68 people at intermediate level, the rest is
at high school level.
Types of accommodation in the district are
invested with full facilities. Currently, the district has 138 business and
tourist accommodation establishments, including 9 hotels, 26 motels, 103
community guesthouses. The whole district has 13 villages doing business of
community tourism activities. Some tourist sites operate effectively such as Mai Chau
Ecolodge (Na Phon commune), Mai Chau Villlas (Mai Hich commune), Lac village
(Chieng Chau commune), etc. The tourist spots attract a large number of domestic and
international visitors. In 2018, Mai Chau tourism has welcomed nearly 332,000
visitors to visit and explore (increasing 7,464 visitors compared to 2017),
including 132,500 international visitors, 199,500 domestic tourists. The total
revenue from tourism reached 107.6 billion VND (increasing 18 billion VND
compared to 2017).
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.