(HBO) – A delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) paid a working visit to Hoa Binh province on October 5 and 6 to look into a project on building and upgrading tourism infrastructure of Hoa Binh Lake. Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanh received the delegation.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanh
presents a painting of Hoa Binh’s cultural symbol to the ADB delegation.
Local officials briefed the ADB delegation on
the local strengths and the tourism potential of Hoa Binh Lake, noting that the
province is part of the Hanoi Capital Region and boasts rich natural resources,
scenic landscapes and unique cultural identities of ethnic groups.
In 2016, the Prime Minister approved a general
development plan for the Hoa Binh Lake national tourism area until 2030. This
site is being developed into the largest tourism centre of the province and one
of the 12 key national tourism areas in the northern midland and mountainous
region, with activities exploring local culture and the lake’s ecosystem as its
typical tourism product.
The province proposed the ADB invest in a
project on building and upgrading the lake’s tourism infrastructure, including
expanding 33km of a road on the right bank of the lake and upgrading Bich Ha
Wharf so that it can handle 300,000 tonnes of goods and over 80,000 passengers
each year. This project will need a total investment of over 90 million USD and
be carried out in five years since a loan agreement for it takes effect.
Addressing the working session, Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanh emphasised that it is a key project
of Hoa Binh and expected to generate socio-economic benefits for local
residents.
He expressed his hope for the ADB’s cooperation
and that the bank will reply to Hoa Binh’s proposal soon so that the province
can carry out the next steps.
On October 6, the ADB delegation made a
fact-finding tour of the Hoa Binh Lake tourism area before working with
relevant ministries and sectors to make the final decision./.
Hoa Binh province’s rich natural and cultural resources position it as a prime location for developing community-based tourism (CBT). In recent years, support from central and provincial policies, as well as assistance from non-governmental organisations, have encouraged local ethnic minority and mountainous communities to actively engage in the sector.
Van Son Commune, Tan Lạc district, Hoa Binh province also known as "Cloud Valley," boasts a cool climate, stunning natural landscapes, and majestic scenery. Visitors who have been to this place should make a stop at Chien Hamlet to experience a lot of fascinating things and feel the friendly, warmth of the Muong ethnic people.
Thanks to the effective exploitation of natural landscape and the cultural diversity of ethnic minorities, Hoa Binh province has become an attractive destination for tourists seeking experiences and exploration.
The Department of Cultural Heritage has just coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh province to organize a training on implementing the model of the cultural heritage connected in the cultural tourism journey in Cao Phong and Lac Son districts.
The Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, is endowed with pristine natural landscape, and Dao Tien ethnic minority community in the village preserves rich cultural heritage, including traditional housing, clothing, language, scripts, customs, and daily life practices. Since the community-based tourism model was introduced in the locality, these traditional cultural values have been further preserved and promoted.