(HBO) – About 60km northwest of Hoa Binh city, Lac village of Chieng Chau commune, Mai Chau district, is hidden among mountain ranges. It is a popular destination, especially among those who passion natural beauty and ethnic minority culture.
Foreigners tour Lac village by bicycle
Lac village is situated in Mai Chau valley and is home to Thai ethnic people.
Once here the peace and picturesque that nature has given to this place become
apparent. In the past, locals depended on farming rice and making brocades for
a livelihood. However, the village’s hidden charm has recently been explored,
particularly through increasing community-based tourism, helping turn it into a
key tourism site of Mai Chau and the northwestern region.
The number of tourists to Lac village has risen in recent years. Stilt houses
have been upgraded but still have traditional features, while 57 houses provide
homestay services in the village at present. More than 12,880 tourists,
including about 2,950 foreigners, enjoyed the services in 2016. Service quality
is improving and foreigners are not overcharged as all service prices are
publicised. Tourists in groups can rent a stilt house at 500,000 – 1 million
VND (22 – 44 USD) while single travellers can rent a room at 200,000 VND (8.8
USD).
Lang Cam Van, a student of the University of Industry, said her group with more
than 50 members rented two houses at 750,000 VND (33 USD) each. The houses were
clean while the host was very friendly, making them feel at home.
Foreign visitors enjoy coming here. They can eat traditional dishes of Thai
ethnic people such as "ga doi” (free-range chicken), "mang dang” (bitter bamboo
shoot), "ruou can” (wine drunk out of a jar by pipes), and "nep nuong” (sticky rice
grown in hills). Daniel, a tourist from
New Zealand, said: "I love the food
here, especially "com lam” (bamboo-tube rice). This is the first time I seen
rice is cooked in a special way. The sticky rice in combination with coconut
and the typical fragrance of bamboo tubes create a perfect dish. We are not
confused by the language because local people could communicate in English
fluently. We also had a brocade weaving experience and joined art performances.
We made a lot of unforgettable memories in this place.”
Head of the Lac hamlet Ha Cong Hong said tourism is the main source of income
for locals at present. The previous year’s average per capita income was
estimated at 27 million VND. We are always aware of improving service quality
to attract visitors. Social order and security are ensured. We plan to build a
tourism development project and create flower gardens for visitors to take
photos.
According to Hong, locals understand that a good environment will boost
community-based tourism. Households clean the streets and dredge the sewers.
However, there are no effective measures to treat waste, with most rubbish
burnt. Local communes have encouraged families to contribute money to hire an
environment company to collect garbage.
Dong Huong
Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province, is widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Muong ethnic group. Among its many traditional communities, Luy Ai hamlet (formerly Ai hamlet) stands out as a rare location where the customs and way of life of the Muong Bi people remain largely intact.
The Truong Kha temple festival, a distinctive cultural event held every three years in Vu Ban township, Lac Son district, returned recently with vibrant rituals and folk traditions of the Muong people. Located next to the Buoi River in the Muong Trao fields, the Truong Kha Temple is dedicated to the three Kun Dol deities, revered for teaching farming techniques, irrigation, weaving, and protecting the harvest.
The demand for spaces serving community activities of residents in various areas across Hoa Binh city has been satisfied as local cultural houses now feature modern, spacious facilities thanks to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 49/NQ-HDND issued on December 28, 2021 by the city People's Council, which approved the plan for reorganising, converting, and allocating land for the construction, repair, and expansion of cultural houses in Hoa Binh’s villages and residential areas until 2025.
At the end of May, the Hoa Binh Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe organized a series of performances for residents in Region 2 and Region 3 communes across the province. Bringing art to ethnic communities in remote, isolated, and especially disadvantaged areas has become a meaningful activity. These are not merely artistic performances but also journeys to disseminate cultural values, enrich spiritual life, and contribute to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.
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