(HBO) – Tourism activities and craft villages in Mai Chau district are experiencing a period of stagnation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact. A number of households earning their living from tourism and traditional crafts are struggling due to unstable livelihoods and income.
During the period of activity suspension, households
working in community-based tourism in Lac village of Chieng Chau commune (Mai
Chau district) have been upgrading infrastructure to prepare for tourism
resumption.
Travellers absent in community-based
tourism village
Lac village in Chieng Chau commune is a famous
community-based tourism village. In the peak season, it welcomed around 1,500
visitors, both Vietnamese and foreign ones, per day. But that was the time
before the COVID-19 pandemic started, according to village leader Ha Cong Hong.
Ha Cong Tan, owner of a community-based tourism
hostel in Lac village, has suspended receiving tourists since early May.
He said the households running hostels like his
have had to halt activities to carry out anti-pandemic measures. Many have
temporarily closed their establishments.
To prepare for tourism reopening once COVID-19
is brought under control, some households have been upgrading accommodation
facilities, he noted, adding that his family is also expanding infrastructure
to welcome travellers back when possible.
Traditional craft villages face numerous
difficulties
Previously earning incomes of 3 million - 4
million VND (131 - 175 USD) per month, workers of the Chieng Chau brocade
making, service, and tourism co-operative is now unemployed. To support
families, some of them have had to seek jobs at tailor shops or companies in
the Chieng Chau industrial cluster, but the new jobs are not stable.
Ha Thi Lieu, deputy head of the culture and
information division of Mai Chau, said all tourism business and accommodation
establishments across the district have suspended operations to prevent the
spread of COVID-19, affecting about 1,200 workers of hostels, community-based
tourism facilities, and craft villages.
She noted aside from requesting the serious
implementation of anti-pandemic measures, local authorities have also
encouraged households to improve services and upgrade infrastructure. The Mai
Chau People’s Committee has ordered specialised agencies to list people
eligible to benefit from the Government’s aid package of 26 trillion VND for
pandemic-hit enterprises and people, including those working in the tourism
sector.
Covering an area of over 52,000 hectares spanning districts of Mai Chau, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Da Bac, and Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh lake has strong potential for tourism development. In recent years, thanks to the attention of local Party Committees and authorities as well as support from international organisations, the advantages of tourism in the lake area have been utilised.
Mai Chau is a mountainous district and home to many ethnic groups such as Thai, Muong, Kinh, Mong, Dao, and Tay with distinctive cultural identities, creating a diverse and unique cultural treasure. Aware of its advantages, the district has paid attention to the preservation and promotion of ethnic groups’ cultural values so that culture will become a leverage for tourism and contribute to socio-economic development and life quality improvement.
According to the Hoa Binh provincial Department of Planning and Investment, in Hoa Binh Lake tourist area, there are currently 16 licensed or certified service, cultural and tourism investment projects with a land use area of about 1,444 hectares, and a total capital of over 3.3 trillion VND (133.5 million USD). In addition to investment attraction, the province is speeding up the implementation of projects so as to realise a goal of developing Hoa Binh Lake tourist area into a national one.
These days, tourist attractions in Mai Chau district, especially those highlighted by the charming and romantic white Ban (Bauhinia) flower blossoms, are attracting a large number of visitors from across the country. Visiting these sites, tourists can immerse themselves in the pristine and majestic beauty of nature.
.jpg)
