(HBO) – Community-based tourism has been opted by many localities in Hoa Binh province as the model has spurred sustainable development, generated more jobs and helped to raise living standards of ethnic minority groups.
It has also contributed to preserving the ecological
environment as well as traditional cultural identities of local ethnic minority
people.
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Pao homestay in Pa Co commune, Mau Chau district, offers space for visitors to
experience daily activities of Mong ethnic minority people.
Statistics show that before 2015, the province had 105
homestay establishments, including 15 in Cao Phong district and 20 in Tan Lac
district. The quality of the homestay facilities has been improved
significantly, with affordable prices.
To promote the model, Hoa Binh has rolled out programmes on
tourism promotion. Local homestay establishments have also been assisted with
equipment and household utensils, the organisation of art programmes, and the
preservation of traditional cultures and costumes.
Through the funding of the national target programme on
new-style rural area building, Hoa Binh has helped the localities to promote
their brand names and "One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) products.
Training courses have also been held to equip local
residents with tourism knowledge and skills.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture,
Sports and Tourism Bui Xuan Truong said community-based tourism has remarkably
contributed to the locality’s tourism revenue, with international visitors accounting
for 34.8 percent, and domestic holiday-makers, 65.3 percent.
To further boost the model, the province has implemented a project
on community-based tourism development in combination with new-style rural area
building by 2030.
Accordingly, Hoa Binh will focus on mobilising resources for
community-based tourism, developing model homestay establishments, building
infrastructure, and stepping up the communications work./.
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.
In the first 9 months of 2024, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province welcomed over 684 thousand visitors to visit and relax. In which, over 516 thousand domestic visitors and more than 168 thousand international visitors. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at over 821 billion VND.