(HBO) –The bus runs from Hanoi along Road No. 6 north-westward to HoaBinh, the city of electricity and culture of different ethnic groups like Muong, Thai, Kinh, Dao, Mong and Tay. After passing Cunslope, the bus will reach the VuonhoanuiCoi (Coi Mount Flower Garden) cultural area in Cao Phong district, which is famous for its oranges and sugar-canes. Tourists should stop at the top of ThungKhePass to take a view of MaiChau Valley.
The
valley houses villages of ethnic groups in Mai Chauwith green rice and corn
fields under the mountain’s silhouette. There are stilt houses sitting at the
foot of the mountain and treesalong Xia Spring.
The valley is surrounded by high mountain ranges
which now appear, now disappear among clouds.
Arriving in Van and PomCoong villages in Mai
Chau town, Lac village in ChiengChau commune and Buoc village in XamKhoe
commune, visitors will be welcomed by local boys and girls in festive
clothes.
Local girls or owners of villages and families
will invite tourists to admire Thai people’s wide, clean and airy stilt houses
which are built from wood and bamboo. The houses have stairs at the two sides
and a vast shady space below. Surrounded by orchards, the houses boast a simple
but special beauty.
Visitors will be served with special local
dishes like Com lam muoivung (steamed sticky ricein bamboo tubes with sesame
and salt), Cha mianuong (roasted meat with sugarcane), barbecued or boiled pork
with Thai pepper, mountain chicken, multi-colour sticky rice, fish grilled in
banana leaves, wild bees, ant eggs, forest bamboo shoots and Mai Ha wine.
Vacationers can travel around villages,
mountains, forests and beautiful caves such as Nuoc, Khoai, Mo Luong, Chieu and
PiengKiem, and archeological sites like Long and KhauPhuc caves, along with
other national relic sites.
When it gets dark and cold, tourists are invited
to join a camp-fire organised at the courtyard of the cultural house and enjoy
traditional art performances. Local girls, boys and children amorously play
pan-pipes, gourd lutes, double flutes and gongs. Holiday-makers also have a
chance to enjoy traditional dances like sap, kengloong, nhumhua, khan (scarf),
quat(fan), kepbooc, ong (pipe) and ton coog.
Tours are available for those who are interested
in exploring the life of Mong people and their traditional culture in Pa Co and
Hang Kia communes, which are located
1,288 m above the sea level, with a pitch of
30-35 degrees.
Roofed with woodor thatch, Mong people’s houses
have gardens surrounded by stone walls. In the spring, Mong villages will be
covered by apricot, peach, plum and Ban flowers.
Locals exchange greetings on the way to the
market with dances and sounds of pan-pines and lip lutes.
The crowded and special village fair offers
visitors wine and "thang co” (horse meat soup). Old people come to the market
regularly to meet their old friends. It is a really an interesting place for
visitors to experience the local life.
Bui Chi
Thanh
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.
According to the Hoa Binh provincial Department of Planning and Investment, in Hoa Binh Lake tourist area, there are currently 16 licensed or certified service, cultural and tourism investment projects with a land use area of about 1,444 hectares, and a total capital of over 3.3 trillion VND (133.5 million USD). In addition to investment attraction, the province is speeding up the implementation of projects so as to realise a goal of developing Hoa Binh Lake tourist area into a national one.
These days, tourist attractions in Mai Chau district, especially those highlighted by the charming and romantic white Ban (Bauhinia) flower blossoms, are attracting a large number of visitors from across the country. Visiting these sites, tourists can immerse themselves in the pristine and majestic beauty of nature.
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