(HBO) – As a magnet for tourists, Mai Chau has been honoured by the Traveller Review Awards, which evaluates the hospitality of tourist destinations, as one of the 10 most hospitable destinations in Vietnam in 2023.
An Italy tourist group pose for a photo in Hich village, a community-based tourist site in Mai Hich commune, Mai Chau district.
The award was based on more than 240 million verified reviews from Booking.com travellers. It shows Mai Chau’s role in Vietnam’s tourism map, and reflects the efforts of the Party Committee, administration and local residents of Mai Chau in promoting tourism.
Hoang Duc Minh, Vice Chairman of the Mai Chau People’s Committee, said that Mai Chau is a mountainous district, which is home to seven ethnic groups with diverse cultural identities.
Over the years, the committee has taken great efforts to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the ethnic groups through the issuance of many plans, directives, resolutions and projects in the field.
The locality’s efforts have reaped fruits. The district has revived and restored "Xen Muong” festival of Thai ethnic minority people, and "Gau Tao” festival of Mong ethnic minority people. In 2021, "keng long” dance of the Thai people was proposed for the title of national intangible cultural heritage.
Today, Mai Chau is one of the bright spots in the Vietnamese tourism map with 197 accommodation facilities for tourists, including four resorts - Avana Resort, Mai Chau Ecolodge, Ba Khan Village Resort, and Mai Chau Hideaway Resort. The district has eight community-based tourism sites.
Mai Chau welcomed 324,536 visitors in 2017, 332,000 visitors in 2018, and 379,500 visitors in 2019. After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022, the district served 534,000 tourists, including 19,713 foreigners and 504,287 domestic visitors.
In the first nine months of 2023, Mai Chau welcomed 467,713 visitors, including 54,807 foreigners. Revenue from tourism has greatly contributed to the district's socio-economic development.
Ngan Van Tuan, head of the district’s Division of Information and Communications, in the time to come, in order to maintain its position as an attractive and hospitable destination, Mai Chau will continue to invest in tourism development, while expanding community-based tourism in association with environmental protection, encouraging local people to join hands in promoting cultural values and building the image of Mai Chau tourism.
With its pristine landscapes, unique cultural heritage of Muong ethnic minority, and an expanding range of visitor experiences, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh has fast become a captivating destination for both domestic and international tourists.
Until now, Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district remains the only Dao ethnic community in Hoa Binh province to develop a community-based tourism model. Beyond its untouched natural landscapes, cultural identity serves as the cornerstone attraction for visitors.
Alongside the diverse cultural identities of the Kinh, Muong, Tay, Thai, Dao, and Mong ethnic people, Hoa Binh province is also renowned as the "capital" of the northwestern Vietnamese cuisine, offering unique and distinctive dishes. At festivals, during Lunar New Year (Tet), or on significant family or community occasions, special dishes are prepared, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
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.
Community-based tourism has been thriving in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district thanks to advantages in natural landscape and cultural identity.
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.
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