(HBO) - Mai Chau is an ideal destination for tourists because of the natural scenery, people and the unique features of customs and practices of Thai and Mong ethnic groups, etc. In the past, Mai Chau tourism thrives, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and explore. To gradually affirm the position of Mai Chau tourism on Vietnam's tourism map, Mai Chau district is gradually aiming to develop high quality tourism with tourism products, service quality, etc.

Tour guides exchange professional occupation
and professional skills to improve communication skills, towards the satisfaction
of tourists. Photo taken in Hich village, Mai Hich commune (Mai Chau).
The district pays special attention to the
preservation and promotion of the ethnic cultural identity. The district
restores and organizes traditional festivals such as: the Xen Muong festival of
the Thai ethnic group, the Gau Tao festival of the Mong ethnic group, etc. The
community tourism sites must strictly implement the regulations on the
preservation of the ethnic culture, such as: keeping the stilt houses;
welcoming clothes must be national costumes; the service prices must comply
with regulations, etc.
Besides, the district is interested in
building specific tourist products. The district gradually establishes the
international, inter-provincial, inter-regional, intra-provincial,
intra-provincial and intra-regional tourist routes.
The whole district has 574 workers in tourism
field, of which there are 2 postgraduate qualifications, 48 at university
level, 50 people at college level, 68 people at intermediate level, the rest is
at high school level.
Types of accommodation in the district are
invested with full facilities. Currently, the district has 138 business and
tourist accommodation establishments, including 9 hotels, 26 motels, 103
community guesthouses. The whole district has 13 villages doing business of
community tourism activities. Some tourist sites operate effectively such as Mai Chau
Ecolodge (Na Phon commune), Mai Chau Villlas (Mai Hich commune), Lac village
(Chieng Chau commune), etc. The tourist spots attract a large number of domestic and
international visitors. In 2018, Mai Chau tourism has welcomed nearly 332,000
visitors to visit and explore (increasing 7,464 visitors compared to 2017),
including 132,500 international visitors, 199,500 domestic tourists. The total
revenue from tourism reached 107.6 billion VND (increasing 18 billion VND
compared to 2017).
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.