(HBO) – Kim Boi district in northern Hoa Binh province is endowed with beautiful natural scenery with majestic caves, mountains and forests. It is also famous for folk culture and traditional festivals of Muong ethnic minority group. To promote its potential, the district has focused investment on improving the quality of tourism services, striving to become a high-quality tourism centre in the province.
Serena Resort in Khai Doi hamlet, Sao Bay commune, is one of
the high-class resorts in Kim Boi district.
Kim Boi has long been known for its hot mineral
spring. The spring is considered one of the best natural mineral
hot springs in
Southeast Asia.
Additionally, Kim Boi is a famous land of folk culture and traditional
festivals of the Muong ethnic minority people. Archaeological relic site of
Dong Thech ancient tomb (Chieng hamlet, Vinh Dong commune) dating back to the
second half of the 17th century with small and big stone columns carved in Han
– Nom scripts was recognised as a national relic site. Annually, a number of
festivals are held across the district such as Muong Dong festival (to pray for
good crops and happy families), spring festival, Khuong mua (xuong dong or
taking to the paddy fields), and a festival celebrating a new rice crop. Folk
community games are held at village festivals such as ‘nem con’ (cloth balls
throwing), ‘keo co’ (tug of war), and ‘day gay’ (stick pushing) along with
unique dances.
Furthermore, Kim Boi boasts a diverse system of
caves, mountains and old forests. These natural advantages enable the district
to develop eco-tourism, resort tourism and tours to explore Muong ethnic
culture. The district is home to many eco-tourism sites such as Serena Resort (
Sao
Baycommune), Cuu Thac Tu Son (site of nine waterfalls in Tu Son commune), Mat Troi
(Sun waterfall in Kim Tien commune), Thuong Tien specialised forest and
V’Resort (Vinh Tien commune).
The
number of visitors to Kim Boi district is higher than those to the districts of
Ky Son, Yen Thuy, Luong Son, Lac Son, Tan Lac and Cao Phong. However, the
figure is lower than those of Hoa Binh city, and Mai Chau and Lac Thuy districts.
Kim Boi district ranked third in the province in terms of revenues from tourism
services last year with 137.6 billion VND (6 million USD), just behind Luong
Son and Lac Thuy districts. Last year, the district’s tourism sector saw
promising signals. By the end of November, Kim Boi welcomed nearly 197,000
tourists, including 18,771 domestic visitors and 8,124 foreigners. Hotel room
occupancy reached 65 percent.
The district is planning to develop high-quality tourism to attract more
domestic and international foreigners. High-end resorts will be developed in
parallel with top quality tours and community-based tourism. It expects to welcome
250,000 visitors by 2020, 400,000 by 2025 and 650,000 by 2030. Earnings from
tourism are expected at 250 billion VND by 2020, 460 billion VND by 2025 and
900 billion VND by 2030./.
Hoa Binh has taken measures, focusing on removing barriers in terms of mechanism, policy, infrastructure, and upgrading technical infrastructure facilities serving tourism and the quality of human resources, to promote tourism development in the Hoa Binh Lake area.
Over the past time, Da Bac has deployed measures to lure more domestic and foreign visitors to the locality, aiming to turn tourism into the district’s economic spearhead.
Covering an area of over 52,000 hectares spanning districts of Mai Chau, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Da Bac, and Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh lake has strong potential for tourism development. In recent years, thanks to the attention of local Party Committees and authorities as well as support from international organisations, the advantages of tourism in the lake area have been utilised.
Mai Chau is a mountainous district and home to many ethnic groups such as Thai, Muong, Kinh, Mong, Dao, and Tay with distinctive cultural identities, creating a diverse and unique cultural treasure. Aware of its advantages, the district has paid attention to the preservation and promotion of ethnic groups’ cultural values so that culture will become a leverage for tourism and contribute to socio-economic development and life quality improvement.
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