HBO – When young, few residents of Hoa Binh did not dreamed of Mai Chau, the name of which generations of students in Hoa Binh have come to memorise through poems they learn at school.
The Hideaway tourism site in Tan Mai commune (Mai Chau district) is a
destination favoured by many foreign tourists.
I have never thought I would one day have a chance to
set foot in the places the names of which have been made immortal by poetry.
Some places remain inaccessible, located thousands of metres high on mountains
such as Sai Khao, Muong Lat, Pha Luong as described in the poem "Tay Tien”
(Marching West) by Quang Dung. Other places now have become familiar for many.
I have come to a Mai Chau full of fragrant smell of steamed rice as Quang Dung
remembers in his poem.
Mai Chau in front of me is as quiet as in the poem.
Some weaving looms are turning out colourful brocade for the skirts of Thai and
Muong girls, which make visitors hesitant to leave.
Further in sight are the bare fields after harvest, the
stilt houses hidden in green trees, and rows of bamboo embracing a small
stream. Mai Chau now is divided into three obvious areas: a town with hotels
and shops not second to any other town; rural villages that recently got a
facelift, where stilt houses have been converted into lodging houses or shops
selling all sorts of ethnic tools or utensil like bow and cross-bow, papoose
and gong; and the remaining area with fields and orchards where stilt houses
seem to be floating in the sunlight, which I like the best.
The road to Mai Chau runs through white clouds and
while stone. Thung Khe Pass is like a warm hand, where bamboo tubes filled with
rice are cooked in a bonfire. Sitting beside a small bamboo table with a small
fire at my feet, I took a bamboo tube and gently peeled off the bamboo strips,
revealing the white rice inside. I took a small piece of the rice, dipped it
into the mixture of sesame and salt and put it in my mouth, then slowly chewed
the rice to absorb its fragrance.
Passing Thung Khe, the road wound along the mountain.
I stopped at a spot at the roadside, which gave the best view of Mai Chau.
Several foreign visitors were also there, taking photos and looking for a long
time the mountain, roads, fields and houses below.
As the new year begins and festive spirit fills the air, visitors flock to Hoa Binh lake, often dubbed the "Ha Long Bay on land," to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and serene atmosphere. In spring, the lake comes alive with lush greenery and delicate blossoms, while boats carrying eager tourists glide across its tranquil waters.
With effective business operations, significant increases in the number of visitors at weekends and on public holidays, and being listed among the 71 most beautiful places to visit worldwide by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, Hoa Binh’s tourism is "spreading its wings" on its journey towards the targets of welcoming 4.9 million visitors, including 1 million foreigners, and achieving total tourism revenue of 5.4 trillion VND (211.89 million USD) in 2025.
On February 21, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to implement the tourism plan in 2025 and meet with tourism businesses operating in the province. The event was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Head of the Provincial Tourism Steering Committee.
Tien Pagoda is located in the valley of Lao Noi and Lao Ngoai villages, Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district; it is surrounded by two mountain ranges stretching like two giant dragons reaching for the blue sky. Every year, when spring comes, thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all over the country make a pilgrimage to Tien Pagoda. The relic complex of Tien Pagoda is ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with 21 relic sites of many types: historical and cultural relics, scenic relics, and archaeological relics.
Cao Phong has paid due attention to developing tourism, creating impetus for socio-economic development towards completing the targets set in the resolution of the district’s 28th Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.
A great number of visitors have flocked to tourist attractions in Hoa Binh province in the first lunar month every year to admire the beautiful scenery, fully enjoy the spring atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere in many localities.