(HBO) - Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district is at an altitude of some 530 metres above sea level, in front of the majestic Bieu mountain range, at the foot of terraced rice fields, and stretching along a romantic hillside. It is a village of the Dao ethnic minority group, with many traditional cultural values preserved by local people.
Tourists take
photos with local people in front of a traditional house of the Dao ethnic
minority people in Sung hamlet, Cao Son commune, Da Bac district.
Developing community-based
tourism since 2017, Sung village is extremely popular among foreign tourists thanks
to its rustic and unspoiled look. Around 70-80 percent of visitors coming to
the village annually are from European countries such as the UK, France, Belgium,
and Ireland.
Visitors will not only be able to explore the local culture, learn of traditional
customs, admire the architecture of houses, and hear of the lives of local people,
but can also enjoy ethnic minority cuisine such as mountainous chicken, stream fish,
young bamboo, "Can” wine, and "Hoang” wine, etc. In particular, they can join
with local people through activities such as rice transplanting, forest planting,
animal husbandry, rice cooking, and fishing.
There are three homestays in the area - Thanh Chung, Xuan Lan, and Nhat Quy - catering to domestic and international guests. They
are highly regarded by visitors as they retain the original architecture of traditional
Dao houses. Here, visitors can enjoy traditional dishes, explore the daily life
of the Dao people through activities such as brocade weaving, and walk through the
forest.
The original earthen-walled
houses along with the traditional customs and friendliness of local people are attractive
to tourists. After a long period of being affected by COVID-19, community tourism
has been restored in the hamlet, with the first international visitors now
arriving./.
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.