(HBO) - Na Phon commune in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province has exploited the potential of natural landscapes and cultural features of ethnic groups to attract tourists.
'Keeng loong' dance – a special cultural identity of the
Thai group in Mai Chau district.
F. Martine, a tourist from France, was very excited about
joining Thai ethnic people in Nhut hamlet dance and learning about 'keeng
loong' culture. She said she was surprised to see local people with bamboo
sticks and a big wooden stump create different dances and vibrant sounds.
Previously, stall dancing and 'keeng loong' were only held during holidays and
festivals. However, in recent years, when Na Phon strongly develops
community-based tourism, hamlets in Na Phon set up a cultural team, organise
stall dancing, and play 'keeng loong' for tourists to experience.
Moreover, homestays in the commune focus on building green
space, creating environmental landscapes to preserve and bring visitors
authentic experiences about the culture of the Thai people. The commune is more
and more attractive to visitors with the year-round green natural landscape,
the friendliness and hospitality of the people, and community activities
bearing the identity of the indigenous people.
Na Phon commune is nearly 2 km from the district's centre and still retains the
original and rustic architectural and cultural features of the Thai people
including cuisine, costumes, and houses on stilts. Moreover, the commune together
with Lac village in Chieng Chau commune and Poom Cong village in Mai Chau town
forms a tourism triangle to attract tourists. Seizing the opportunity, the
authorities and people of Na Phon commune have invested in tourism facilities.
The commune currently has 19 homestay establishments and two resorts. The
commune still maintains 100 brocade looms and established 22 artistic teams.
Over the years, the work of preserving and attaching cultural
heritages of ethnic groups in the development of community tourism has been
exploited.
Traditional costumes, old houses, cuisine, folk songs, dances,
and traditional brocade products are among tourism products attracting domestic
and international visitors.
Lo Van Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Na Phon Commune People's Committee,
said that to develop sustainable tourism without losing the cultural identity
of ethnic groups, the commune has a preservation policy. Tourism development
help improve local living conditions and prosper socio-economic development of
the locality./.
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.