Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area eyes national status

6/27/2024 - 6:38:01 PM

The Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee has issued a resolution on the development of the Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area, aiming to turn it into a national site. To date, the area has satisfied three out of the five criteria set for a national tourist site.

Afternoon over Hoa Binh Lake.

Mobilising resources

Under the planning scheme by 2035, approved by the Prime Minister, the area will be a key national tourist site in the northern midland and mountainous region, with special cultural traits, ecosystem, and tourism products.

Covering 52,200 hectares in Da Bac, Tan Lac, Cao Phong and Mai Chau districts and Hoa Binh city, the lake is dubbed "Ha Long Bay on Land”, with various tourist attractions and historical, cultural and spiritual relic sites, such as Thac Bo Temple, Ngoi Hoa Bay, and Coconut Island, along with hamlets of Muong and Dao ethnic groups.

Hoa Binh province has mobilised resources for infrastructure, especially in transport, in the area. Notably, the Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh Expressway connecting Thang Long avenue with Hoa Binh city has been put into use, helping shorten the travel time between Hanoi and the province.

The locality is working to meet the remaining criteria regarding infrastructure and high-quality services; and security, social order and safety, and environmental protection.

Resolution put in place

Implementing the resolution, the province has invested concertedly in infrastructure, particularly transport infrastructure, and attracted many large-scale projects worth hundreds of billions of Vietnam dong.

Apart from spiritual tourism, it has stepped up community tourism in hamlets like Ngoi (Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district), Da Bia (Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district), and Ke (Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district).

Ke hamlet is offering diverse tourism products, including kayak ride and tours to fish farms and temples. From Ke, visitors can pedal their way or ride a motorbike to its neighbouring hamlets like Sung (20 km away), and Da Bia (30 km), or take a boat to attractions in Mai Chau district.

Currently, there are more than 100 lodging facilities in the area, notably Mai Chau hideaway and Ba Khan Village resort, and about 300 vehicles.

The Hoa Binh Lake area has so far attracted 16 tourism and service projects worth some 3.3 trillion VND (129.62 million USD). It has one community tourism site rated four stars, and another rated three stars under the "One Commune-One Product” programme.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan said the area has played an important role in luring both domestic and foreign visitors to Hoa Binh, noting it is expected to welcome over 1 million holidaymakers by 2025.

Da Bac district: tourism helps raise living standards of ethnic minority groups

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.

Da Bac district offers ideal natural escape

Da Bac district, bestowed with stunning landscapes, is developing ecological and resort tourism offerings. Several tourist sites, put into operation this year, has attracted throngs of high-spending and young domestic visitors.

Da Bac district promotes ethnic groups’ cultural values associated with community tourism development

In the first nine months of 2024, Da Bac district has intensified efforts in preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups in tandem with community-based tourism development. Many cultural tourism products have been built on the basis of preserving and maintaining the architecture of ethnic minority houses as well as traditional crafts such as making do (poonah) paper, brocade weaving, embroidery, and indigo dyeing.

Tan Lac’s highland communes being developed into provincial tourism hub

Tan Lac district’s three highland communes of Quyet Chien, Ngo Luong, and Van Son sit at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level. Known for their wide forest coverage and rich biodiversity, the areas boast a cool, temperate climate in summer and is home to several scenic spots and caves recognised as provincial and national heritage sites. Besides, the region still preserves the cultural traditions of the Muong ethnic group, alongside a variety of agricultural products, which add to its unique appeal for visitors.

The survey on selecting and developing the new tourism products and tours

The survey on selecting and developing the new tourism products and tours. On September 27th and 28th, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism collaborated with Hanoi Unesco Travel Club to organize a survey program to select and develop the new tourism products and tours that highlight the unique features of the lake region in Da Bac district. The survey group included the experts for developing the tourism product, the members of the Vietnam Travel Club, the Vietnam Travel Association, the representatives from businesses, travel companies, domestic and international tourism operators, and media agencies from both inside and outside the province.

Thai community tourism in Mai Chau attractive to holidaymakers

Blessed with a stunning natural landscape, fresh air, and a unique cultural identity, Mai Chau district, where the Thai people make up over 60% of its population, has located itself on the Vietnamese tourism map with community tourism.