(HBO) – Hoa Binh tourism sector has bounced back impressively after COVID-19, welcoming 1.68 million visitors in the first half of this year, including 60,000 foreigners, completing 65.1% of its target for the whole year.
The community-based tourism destination in Chien village, Van Son commune, Tan Lac district is attractive to visitors.
In the period, the province earned about 1.9 trillion VND (81.07 million USD) from tourism activities, fulfilling 79.2% of its yearly goal.
Gifted with various beautiful natural landscapes and a large number of historical relic sites and folk festivals of local ethnic minority groups, Hoa Binh has become one of the most attractive destinations in the northwestern region.
However, COVID-19, which lingered in more than two years, almost froze the local tourism sector, forcing 95% of local travel firms and accommodation facilities to shut down.
In order to adapt to the situation and recover, local tourist destinations have offered new tourism products and enhanced quality of their services while ensuring safety against the pandemic. Last year, despite difficulties from COVID-19, Hoa Binh was among few northern localities to enjoy stable tourism activities. Throughout the year, the province welcomed over 1.47 million visitors, including 48,600 foreigners, earning over 1.51 trillion VND.
Since the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, Hoa Binh has focused on upgrading tourism infrastructure, developing tourism products and services, and developing human resources for the sector. Meanwhile, it has expanded connections with 12 cities and provinces in the north, and cooperation with some other localities for tourism promotion.
It has also partnered with Vietnam Airlines and the central province of Binh Dinh to boost tourism growth, while conducting various communications activities to promote local tourism, spreading the message of "Hoa Binh – Safe Destination, Complete Experience”.
Nguyen Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said that the "smokeless industry” of Hoa Binh is enjoying strong recovery. In the time to come, the province will concentrate on providing diverse and environmental-friendly tourism experience to visitors, while expanding tourism cooperation with other localities and travel firms, strengthening tourism promotion, improving the smart tourism portal of the province and applying digital management platforms.
Dang Tuan Hung, head of the Tourism Management Office under the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, suggested that for fast development of the sector, Hoa Binh should actively implement activities in the framework of the tourism promotion programme for 2022, while organising more famtrips for partners and boost tourism in association with the "One Commune-One Product” programme.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Thanh Ha, head of the Culture-Sports Division of Kim Boi district stressed the need to focus on developing eco-tourism resorts in the locality./.
As the new year begins and festive spirit fills the air, visitors flock to Hoa Binh lake, often dubbed the "Ha Long Bay on land," to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and serene atmosphere. In spring, the lake comes alive with lush greenery and delicate blossoms, while boats carrying eager tourists glide across its tranquil waters.
With effective business operations, significant increases in the number of visitors at weekends and on public holidays, and being listed among the 71 most beautiful places to visit worldwide by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, Hoa Binh’s tourism is "spreading its wings" on its journey towards the targets of welcoming 4.9 million visitors, including 1 million foreigners, and achieving total tourism revenue of 5.4 trillion VND (211.89 million USD) in 2025.
On February 21, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to implement the tourism plan in 2025 and meet with tourism businesses operating in the province. The event was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Head of the Provincial Tourism Steering Committee.
Tien Pagoda is located in the valley of Lao Noi and Lao Ngoai villages, Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district; it is surrounded by two mountain ranges stretching like two giant dragons reaching for the blue sky. Every year, when spring comes, thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all over the country make a pilgrimage to Tien Pagoda. The relic complex of Tien Pagoda is ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with 21 relic sites of many types: historical and cultural relics, scenic relics, and archaeological relics.
Cao Phong has paid due attention to developing tourism, creating impetus for socio-economic development towards completing the targets set in the resolution of the district’s 28th Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.
A great number of visitors have flocked to tourist attractions in Hoa Binh province in the first lunar month every year to admire the beautiful scenery, fully enjoy the spring atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere in many localities.
