(HBO) - Sung is a highland hamlet in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, with a natural area of over 780ha. It is endowed with beautiful landscapes, streams and clouds and terraced fields.

 


A performance of an art troupe of Sung hamlet in Da Bac district’s Cao Son commune.

According to local residents, Sung hamlet has existed for 500 years. It is home to 75 Dao Tien ethnic households, whose lives depend on agricultural production with rice, maize, and potatoes are main crops.

Since 2017, with the support of Action on Poverty (AOP) in Vietnam, some households have participated in tourism activities. They obtained loans and received training relating to cooking and other necessary skills to welcome tourists.

With the advantage of unspoiled natural beauty, folk dances and the traditional craft of brocade printing and embroidery which create many valuable products, Sung hamlet has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists.

Currently, there are three households that offer homestay services, namely Thanh Chung, Xuan Lan and Nhat Quy homestays, and 50 others who engage in providing tourism services in the locality. The community guesthouses here are highly appreciated by visitors for retaining the original architecture of the traditional houses of the Dao ethnic people.

Households offering homestay services have gradually met the demand of tourists by serving traditional cuisine, performing traditional music and organising activities for visitors to experience the lifestyle of Dao ethnic people such as cooking, fishing and learning how to dye fabric and make brocade embroidery of the Dao people.
 
The number of visitors to Sung hamlet was on the rise. In 2017, the village welcomed 600 tourists, including 450 foreign travelers, and earned 350 million VND (15,040 USD) from tourism-related activities. The figure topped 1,850 in 2019, including 1,590 foreign visitors, with a revenue of 817 million VND. Between 2020 and 2022, tourism activities will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ly Sao Mai, a Da Bac community-based tourism coordinator in Sung hamlet, said community-based tourism model has created more jobs and increased income for local people. This is a sustainable business model that exploits the strengths of locals, while preserving and promoting the natural environment landscape and national identity.

It does not only have a positive effect on the development of the tourism sector but also has a profound impact on society, culture, and the environment. However, the model requires close coordination between local residents, tour operators and administrations at all levels to maintain its sustainability. It has initially caught the attention of leaders at all levels and attracted domestic and foreign tourists./.

Related Topics


Phong Linh flower in Thang village, Thach Yen commune attracts tourists

A Phong Linh (Yellow Tabebuia) flower garden in Thang village, Thach Yen commune, Cao Phong district is currently in full bloom, drawing a large number of visitors.

Pa Co commune develops community-based tourism

Community-based tourism has been thriving in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district thanks to advantages in natural landscape and cultural identity.

Ta communal house recognised as provincial-level historical, cultural relic site

Doan Ket commune of Yen Thuy district has recently held a ceremony to receive a certificate recognising Ta communal house as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic site.

Lac Thuy boosts mulberry farming, agro-tourism

In Lac Thuy district, the fertile alluvial land along the Boi River is now home to lush green mulberry gardens, marking the emergence of a new agricultural industry - mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming.

Discovering unique, captivating tourism products at PriorBay Resort

Officially opening in February, Ngoi Hoa Ecotourism Site (PriorBay Resort) in Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district, has quickly become a sought-after destination. It offers visitors a chance to indulge in distinctive and enticing experiences.

Muong woman weaves tourism in Hoa Binh city’s heart

Gia Trang Heian Homestay, a unique cultural oasis in the heart of Hoa Binh city, has become a compelling attraction for tourists seeking ethnic cultural experiences within an urban setting. Bui Thi Hien, a local in Kim Boi district with aspiration for ethnic culture and community-based tourism development, created the homestay that seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary features.