(HBO) - Though Cao Phong, like other districts of Hoa Binh, has cancelled annual festivals in response to COVID-19, tourist attractions and religious sites remain open in the district to welcome visitors.
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Visitors to Bong Lai Temple comply with COVID-19 preventive rules.
Hoang Thi Van, a resident in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, always visits Bong
Lai Temple in Cao Phong on the first days of the New Lunar Year.
She said unlike previous years, the temple was quiet this year because of few
visitors. People were not allowed to go inside the temple, instead they could
only offer incense to pray for luck and peace at the entrance, she said, adding
that free masks and hand sanitiser were provided at the entrance while the
temple operator regularly reminded visitors of adhering to COVID-19 prevention
rules via loudspeakers.
Passenger ship services in Thung Nai were reopened on the third day of lunar
January to serve visitors to Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple. One of the ship owners
said as COVID-19 prevention regulations ban gatherings of many people, all
ships here only let onboard a small number of passengers and strictly complied
with COVID-19 preventive regulations, including only receiving local visitors,
and getting passengers to wear masks and use hand sanitiser.
Bui Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, said Cao
Phong has rigorously enforced measures to prevent the spread of the novel
coronavirus, including cancellation of various cultural, sports and tourism
events and strict penalties handed down to violators.
It has also called on the locals to avoid mass gatherings, practice distancing,
disinfect their houses, install the contact tracing app Bluezone, voluntarily
complete health declarations, and others, he noted.
Home to a number of renowned religious sites, such as the temples of Ba Chua
Thac Bo, Bong Lai and Dong Son, and the pagodas of Khanh and Quen Ang, Cao
Phong is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hoa Binh on the
occasion of the Lunar New Year.
According to its division for culture and sports, visitor arrivals to local
religious sites during the Lunar New Year 2021 were only equivalent to 20
percent of last year’s figure./.
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.
