The 2024 Tour Guide Competition was held in the framework of the Hoa Binh Provincial Culture and Tourism Week, bringing together 13 contestants from seven districts and cities to celebrate the vital role of tour guides as cultural ambassadors.
A contestant from Hang Kia community tourism site, Mai Chau district impresses judges with his guiding skills.
The event aimed to honor tour guides who connect visitors with the region's rich history, cultural heritage, traditions, and local attractions, including historical sites, cuisine, and customs.
The competition featured two segments, one in tour guiding skills and the other in personal talents. The contestants demonstrated good skills, creativity, and confidence in introducing their chosen destinations. Some stood out for their poise and expertise, delivering impressive and memorable presentations.
The event provided a vibrant platform for professional development, allowing local tour guides to exchange experiences, enhance their skills, and strengthen their role as representatives of the province's tourism. It also aimed to elevate the overall quality of tour guiding in the region and boost the province’s appeal to domestic and international travelers.
The organising committee awarded three first prizes, three second prizes, and four third prizes. The top performers were Nguyen Dieu Linh from the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant in Hoa Binh city; Nguyen Thi Ngan from Dong Thech Ancient Tombs in Kim Boi district; and Dinh Thi Hang from Tan Lac district.
Go Lao waterfall in Go Mu hamlet, Son Thuy commune, Mai Chau district is a hidden gem of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh.
In the first 9 months of 2024, Hoa Binh province continues to implement the expanded tourism development cooperation program plan of 8 Northwest provinces with Ho Chi Minh City; deploying digital transformation content in tourism and developing a smart tourism province. Hoa Binh province received about 3.6 million views, an increase of 7.9% over the same period. In which, international visitors are about 380 visitors, domestic visitors are estimated at 3 million 220 visitors.
Spanning thousands of hectares and winding gracefully along mountain slopes, hillsides, and riverbanks, the terraced rice fields of Lac Son District present a stunning and captivating beauty. This region, renowned for its remarkable terraced landscapes, is also the centre of Hoa Binh Culture known for numerous archaeological sites.
The life of Mong people in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes of Mai Chau district has improved much thanks to tourism development.
The man-made Hoa Binh Lake, with a water surface area of approximately 9,000 hectares and a capacity of 9.45 billion cubic meters, stretches over 200 kilometers from Hoa Binh to Son La provinces. With the goal of developing into a national tourism area, the Hoa Binh Lake tourism area is expected to not only become the largest tourism centre in the province but also one of the 12 key tourist destinations in the northern midland and mountainous region of Vietnam.
Da Bia hamlet, now Duc Phong, in Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district, was once almost isolated from the outside as the only way to the hamlet was to get a boat ride across the Hoa Binh reservoir. However, as its tourism potential has been unleashed, the hamlet has established itself as one of the most attractive destinations on the tourism map. It has even received the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Awards in 2019.