(HBO) – Sung hamlet of Da Bac district’s Cao Son commune is home to more than 70 Dao ethnic minority households.
Muong ethnic people in Luy Ai hamlet in Tan Lac district’s Phong Phu commune preserve their stilt houses and traditional cultural values in association with community-based tourism development.
From a locality that mainly engaged in agricultural production,
Sung hamlet has become an attractive community-based tourism destination. In
2008, there were not many services for tourists. Now, the hamlet’s roads have
been concretised. Locals have poured capital into homestays. In particular,
people still keep their traditional houses, maintain brocade weaving and revive
their unique cultural features.
Dang Van Xuan, owner of a homestay establishment in Sung hamlet, said that over
70% of tourists who visit and stay overnight in the village are foreigners,
adding that they are excited to experience the cultural characteristics of the
Dao ethnic people.
He also said that an art troupe, a brocade weaving and a tour guide team have
been set up todiversify the hamlet's services.
Coming to Sung hamlet, visitors can also bathe in herbal water from the
traditional medicine of the Dao ethnic people and enjoy traditional dishes.
Luy Ai hamlet in Tan Lac district’s Phong Phu commune where Muong ethnic
minority people inhabit is also a community-based tourism site in the province.
like Sung hamlet, tourism products of Luy Ai hamlet are stilt houses, the
customs and habits, the beauty in daily life and the culture of the Muong ethnic
people.
Dinh Cong Lon's family was one of the first households to involve in tourism
activities in Luy Ai hamlet. His family upgraded their old stilt house which is
over 30 years old to serve guests. Despite being refurbished, it still keeps
the typical features of a Muong stilt house.
The development of community-based tourism has changed the lives of people in
Sung and Luy Ai hamlets and other hamlets will also enjoy positive changes
thanks to this orientation.
Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic
minorities in association with tourism development is one of the important
projects in the implementation of the National Target Programme on
socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2021
– 2030 period, with the first phase from 2021 - 2025, in the province.
It focuses on preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, fostering
and training cadres who are in charge of cultural affairs as well as supporting
cultural facilities and equipment for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas
to improve the spiritual life for ethnic minorities in association with
community-based tourism development.
The implementation of the project is expected to contribute to preserving and
promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in the
locality./.
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.
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