(HBO) – Untouched rustic Mai Hich commune, which is emblazoned with ripen rice terraces surrounded by mountain ranges and trails covered by white smoke streaking from local houses’ roofs, has grown in stature among domestic and international visitors in recent years.
Photo:
Homestay Minh Tho in Hich 2 village, Mai Hich commune (Mai Chau district) is a
favourable accommodation among travel companies.
Community-based
tourism has undergone positive changes and brought stable income to local
people. There are seven households offering homestay services and three
villages developing community-based tourism, comprising Hich 1, Hich 2 and Cha
Lang. In the first half of the year, the commune welcomed over 1,600 visitors, 900
of whom are foreigners, and raked in nearly 600 million VND in tourism revenue.
The commune has mobilised locals to promote community-based tourism after
seeing its economic benefits. It has also asked the locals to pay attention to
ensuring environmental hygiene to lure more holiday-makers to the locality.
Connections between villages and tourist attractions help visitors have
brilliant experience during their stay.
Ha Cong Minh, a homestay owner in Hich 2 village, said: "How to make tourists
feel comfortable and enjoyable is what we care. We have teamed up with travel
agents to set up tours for visitors to go sightseeing, enjoy stunning views of
waterfalls and landscape of rural areas as well as involve in local activities
like rice harvesting, fishing, brocading and experience traditional dishes and
cultural exchange.
The Centre for Community Health and Development (COHED) has supported homestay
service providers in Hich 2 village with necessary skills and knowledge as well
as capital to develop community-based tourism since 2010. The commune is home
to 120 Thai ethnic families, who have preserved nearly 90 percent of their
traditional stilt houses.
Bestowed with natural landscapes and tourism investment, coupled with local
hospitality, Mai Hich has become an attractive draw for tourists to discover
spectacular sceneries and ethnic traditional culture. It is expected to make
community-based tourism a major currency earner of the commune./.
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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