(HBO) - The pristine and magnificent beauty of the landscape, adorned by the simplicity and charm of the villages of Muong, Dao, and Tay ethnic groups, never fails to captivate tourists whenever they visit the Hoa Binh Lake Tourism Area.
Tourists experience kayaking on Hoa Binh Lake.
Hoa Binh Lake is the largest man-made in Southeast Asia, with a length of about 70 kilometres, spanning across 17 communes in five districts and the city of Hoa Binh province. It is home to hundreds of islets, with limestone mountain ranges, and a system of caves with countless stalactites, creating a surreal and colourful landscape. The lake also boasts small bays and is surrounded by forests teeming with diverse fauna and flora. In addition to the breathtaking natural beauty, there are traditional ethnic minority villages that have preserved their cultural values. All of these factors provide perfect conditions for the development of tourism in the area.
Over the past years, to promote tourism development in the area, the province has invested in essential infrastructure. Locals have also paid attention to preserving and promoting their traditional cultural values. To embark on a trip to the area, tourists can start at different locations. The closest to the centre of Hoa Binh city is Bich Ha Port, located just behind the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant, making it convenient to welcome tourists. Additionally, there are docks like Bai Sang (Mai Chau) and Hien Luong (Da Bac), from which tourists can explore the lake.
Tourists can drive 25 kilometers northwest of Hoa Binh city to explore the lake area, starting from Thung Nai Port in the commune of the same name in Cao Phong district. Here, they can stay in Coi Xay Gio (Windmill) Guesthouse, Dao Dua (Coconut Island), and Dao Ngoc Xanh (Emerald Island).
According to local authorities, there are more than 100 accommodation establishments and approximately 300 passenger transportation vehicles at the Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area. Furthermore, there are two stunning resorts - Mai Chau Hideaway and Ba Khan Village Resort.
Last year, the tourist site welcomed 400,000 visitors, and the number is expected to reach 500,000 annually.
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.