(HBO) – About 60km northwest of Hoa Binh city, Lac village of Chieng Chau commune, Mai Chau district, is hidden among mountain ranges. It is a popular destination, especially among those who passion natural beauty and ethnic minority culture.
Foreigners tour Lac village by bicycle
Lac village is situated in Mai Chau valley and is home to Thai ethnic people.
Once here the peace and picturesque that nature has given to this place become
apparent. In the past, locals depended on farming rice and making brocades for
a livelihood. However, the village’s hidden charm has recently been explored,
particularly through increasing community-based tourism, helping turn it into a
key tourism site of Mai Chau and the northwestern region.
The number of tourists to Lac village has risen in recent years. Stilt houses
have been upgraded but still have traditional features, while 57 houses provide
homestay services in the village at present. More than 12,880 tourists,
including about 2,950 foreigners, enjoyed the services in 2016. Service quality
is improving and foreigners are not overcharged as all service prices are
publicised. Tourists in groups can rent a stilt house at 500,000 – 1 million
VND (22 – 44 USD) while single travellers can rent a room at 200,000 VND (8.8
USD).
Lang Cam Van, a student of the University of Industry, said her group with more
than 50 members rented two houses at 750,000 VND (33 USD) each. The houses were
clean while the host was very friendly, making them feel at home.
Foreign visitors enjoy coming here. They can eat traditional dishes of Thai
ethnic people such as "ga doi” (free-range chicken), "mang dang” (bitter bamboo
shoot), "ruou can” (wine drunk out of a jar by pipes), and "nep nuong” (sticky rice
grown in hills). Daniel, a tourist from
New Zealand, said: "I love the food
here, especially "com lam” (bamboo-tube rice). This is the first time I seen
rice is cooked in a special way. The sticky rice in combination with coconut
and the typical fragrance of bamboo tubes create a perfect dish. We are not
confused by the language because local people could communicate in English
fluently. We also had a brocade weaving experience and joined art performances.
We made a lot of unforgettable memories in this place.”
Head of the Lac hamlet Ha Cong Hong said tourism is the main source of income
for locals at present. The previous year’s average per capita income was
estimated at 27 million VND. We are always aware of improving service quality
to attract visitors. Social order and security are ensured. We plan to build a
tourism development project and create flower gardens for visitors to take
photos.
According to Hong, locals understand that a good environment will boost
community-based tourism. Households clean the streets and dredge the sewers.
However, there are no effective measures to treat waste, with most rubbish
burnt. Local communes have encouraged families to contribute money to hire an
environment company to collect garbage.
Dong Huong
Hoa Binh province has shown strong performance in family planning by effectively implementing directions and plans in the field, including Directive No. 12/CT-UBND issued by the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee on August 4, 2021 on rolling out measures to maintain the policy of each couple having two children, which is stated in community rules and the regulations of agencies, organisations, and units across the province of Hoa Binh for the 2021 – 2025 period.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a hybrid conference on December 18 to review the culture, sport, and tourism sector’s performance in 2024 and launch key tasks for 2025. Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Bui Duc Hinh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Chuong and officials from local departments and sectors also took part in the event.
Hoa Binh’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 18, hosted a conference to present the outcomes of a research study on the traditional costumes of the Muong ethnic group.
Along with the activities of Project 6 - the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for the 2021 – 2026 period, efforts to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in Lac Son district have received additional momentum.
In the context of globalisation and deeper integration, preserving and promoting the national cultural identity is of utmost importance. Aware of their pioneering and proactive role on all fronts, over the years, the youth organisations at all levels in Hoa Binh province have implemented various concrete and practical activities to preserve and promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups in the locality.
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