(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./.
Nestled at the foot of a mountain with the serene Sia stream flowing by, Hich 2 village in Mai Hich commune, Mai Chau district, offers a tranquil retreat and an authentic cultural experience of the Thai ethnic community. Known for its unspoiled nature and preserved traditions, it has become a favourite destination for international tourists.
The People’s Committee of Tan Lac district recently hosted a cultural, sports and tourism festival of local highland communes and a ceremony to receive the Heritage Tree designation.
Hien Luong commune in Da Bac district is blessed with beautiful landscapes, thanks to its location besides a vast, picturesque reservoir with clear waters year-round. This natural advantage has allowed the local ethnic minorities to develop sustainable tourism, becoming a community tourism destination.
The 2024 Tour Guide Competition was held in the framework of the Hoa Binh Provincial Culture and Tourism Week, bringing together 13 contestants from seven districts and cities to celebrate the vital role of tour guides as cultural ambassadors.