(HBO) - With over 80 percent of Thai ethnic group living, Bao La commune in Mai Chau district has a cool climate and terrain surrounded by mountains, terraced fields, waterfalls and winding streams flowing all year round. These are existing potential and advantages to develop tourism, with the building of a community-based tourism trademark as a highlight.
Peaceful space at Thanh Nghi homestay in Chieng Pung hamlet, Bao La
commune, Mai Chau district.
Stopping at Thanh Nghi homestay, Chieng Pung hamlet to immerse in the peaceful
space of the rural area and contemplate the immense rice fields, the first
impression when entering the homestay was the friendly smile of the host, the
old stilt house and the yard full of flowers. Visitors to the homestay, which
was officially operational in 2018, could experience life of Thai ethnic people
by going out to the fields to harvest rice, fishing and bathing in
streams.
Owner of the homestay Ha Thanh Nghi said when
embarking on the development of community-based tourism, he and other
households wanted tourists to discover and experience the unique customs of
Thai ethnic people, thus gradually establishing tourism development groups to
create a local community tourism trademark.
Taking advantage of majestic natural landscapes, mild climate and unique
culture of Thai ethnic group, 10 households in the commune have engaged in
community tourism development. Visitors could join trekking tours on Hang Kia –
Pa Co – Cun Pheo – Bao La route, cycle on dangerous roads and paraglide. A
market fair held every Friday morning also attracts residents in the area and
nearby localities. Coming there, visitors could see charming girls in Thai
costumes, explore local specialties and handicrafts made by locals.
One of the highlights in resort tourism development in Bao La commune is Avana
Retreat Mai Chau Resort, which was recently put into operation. On a planned
site of 15ha, it houses villas on the hillside overlooking golden terraced
fields during the ripe rice season. In particular, the resort boasts a
waterfall which is considered the most beautiful in Mai Chau. Avana Retreat Mai
Chau is rated by tourists as one of the most attractive resorts with new
experiences.
Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Ha Van Hung said over the past
time, local residents have tapped existing potential and advantages to develop
tourism, including community-based tourism. To sustainably develop tourism, the
communal Party Committee and authorities have worked out detailed plans which
define tourism as one of the spearhead economic sectors./.
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.
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