Donning a picturesque patchwork of white and pink hues, courtesy of the blooming plum and peach flowers in spring, community-based tourism villages in Hoa Binh province have drawn a large number of visitors from far and wide, helping mountainous localities get out of poverty.
Ethnic women in Ngoi village, Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district, are making meticulous preparation to welcome visitors.
According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bui Xuan Truong, local community-based tourism has been attractive to both domestic and foreign visitors.
Twenty-two community-based tourism villages with 180 homestays have been developed in the province so far, bringing a better life to the Muong, Thai, Mong and Dao people, he said, adding many households have escaped poverty thanks to tourism.
The community-based model was developed in Chien hamlet - a small Muong village with difficulties in 2019 with the support of the Australian non-governmental organisation Action on Poverty (AOP). After four years of operation, it has helped the hamlet position itself in the province’s tourism map with more visitors coming to experience local landscape and culture.
Mai Hich commune in Mai Chau district, bestowed with scenic beauty and unique cultural traits, has branched out community-based tourism, with 11 households in Hich 1, Hich 2 and Cha Lang hamlets providing this kind of service. Each homestay in the district could accommodate up to 30 guests.
Although the commune has not gained popularity like Lac village or Pom Coong village, it has drawn an increasing number of domestic and foreign arrivals, bringing better income for local residents.
Meanwhile, Sung hamlet in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, locating in the foot of Bieu mountain, has become a magnet for tourists who come to enjoy the standout cultural traits of the Dao Tien ethnic people.
Being introduced to indigo-dying technique and traditional brocade-weaving craft, giving it a try to print patterns on fabric with beeswax and healing themselves with Dao herbal bathing are among the most interesting experiences that visitors have while staying in the hamlet. Beyond cultural exchange, community-based tourism has contributed to creating jobs and increasing income for local residents.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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