(HBO) - In the past time, rural tourism in Hoa Binh province has developed rapidly with many unique models attracting tourists such as experiencing orange gardens, tea hills or exploring natural reserve centres, craft villages and local culture at community-based tourism sites.
Developing
rural tourism has contributed to raising local residents's incomes. It is a
fundamental solution and a driving force to promote new-style rural area
building in a sustainable way.
Households engaged in community-based tourism in Lac village, Chieng Chau
commune (Mai Chau District) pay attention to improving tourism skills.
The province has potential to develop rural tourism, considering the richness
and diversity of local cultures and lifetyle of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao and
Mong ethnic groups that are preserved in each village.Natural
landscapes and unique ecosystems in nature reserve centres are also an
advantage.
Hoa Binh has set up concentrated agricultural areas towards organic production
and VietGAP standard such as fruit growing areas in Cao Phong, Tan Lac, Kim
Boi, Lac Thuy; and safe vegetable production areas in Luong Son district.
With such potential and advantages, the province will focus on developing
various types of rural tourism, mainly agricultural, community-based and
ecological tourism.
In addition to the rapid development of community-based tourism, in recent
years, some localities are paying attention to develop agri-tourism, with Cao
Phong district a typical example. From 2016, the district began welcoming
tourists to local orange gardens. The friendliness and hospitality of the
gardeners along with the beauty of ripe orange orchards have attracted a large
number of visitors.
Dinh Cong Su, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee emphasized
that the tourism industry, with the typical imprint of each region and each
ethnic group, have gradually met the needs of visitors who want to visit and
gain new experiences. As a result, the landscape, environment, cultural and
spiritual life of rural areas have changed significantly, becoming liveable
rural areas.
Rural tourism has created jobs for local people, promoted the consumption of
agricultural products, especially those under the One Commune One Product
model, he said.
It has raised the capacity, knowledge and awareness of rural people while
helping preserve traditional cultural identities.
In the coming time, in order to create a connection between tourism,
agriculture and rural areas towards forming a highly competitive production
value chain, and improving local living conditions, it is necessary for
agencies and localities to coordinate to enhance their responsibilities in
State management of community-based tourism.
Special attention should be paid to areas where ethnic minority people reside.
It is essential to implement a master plan on community-based tourism
development and more investment should be poured in infrastructure.
There should be a close connection between community-based tourism and
agricultural tourism
The development of community-based tourism should be associated with
agri-tourism, craft village tourism and learning about OCOP products in each
locality.
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.