HBO – Da Bac district in Hoa Binh province boasts unique cultural and historical tradition, pristine forests, beautiful landscapes, spectacular mountains, numerous caves, streams and waterfalls. It has been included in the plan to build the Hoa Binh Reservoir National Tourist Area. These offer opportunities for the district to develop various forms of tourism, contributing to sustainable economic restructuring and improving the living conditions of local people.
People in Sung hamlet, Cao Son commune (Da Bac) introduce their special food at the 2017 northwestern region community-based tourism village festival in Mai Chau district
Da Bac district boasts its great tourism resources. Its Hoa Binh reservoir has many big and small islands and peaceful bays, which are attractive to tourists. Phu Canh pristine forest, spanning over the communes of Dong Ruong, Doan Ket and Dong Chum, houses valuable timber and animals. Lo Lan cave in the Bieu mountain nature reserve in Hien Luong commune is bestowed with temperate climate, filled with fog all year around. Bo Temple is a well-known spiritual tourism site. The district is also home to Muong, Dao and Tay ethnic minority groups with their own cultural identities, offering chances for tourists to explore and experience local lives.
Nguyen Van Hien, head of the district’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Da Bac has developed a resolution on tourism development through 2030, as Hoa Binh reservoir is planned to be a national tourist area.
Publicity campaigns have been conducted to promote the Hoa Binh reservoir national tourist site while encouraging locals to preserve the cultural identities, protect the environment and enhance their hospitality kills.
Numerous local firms have showed their interest in tourism projects around Hoa Binh reservoir. A number of community-based tourism models have been established and operated effectively, such as Ke hamlet, Hien Luong commune; Da Bia hamlet, Tien Phong commune; and Sung hamlet in Cao Son commune.
Sung hamlet is one of the attractive homestay destinations in the district, involving 376 people of 71 households. All of them are Dao ethnic minorities. With beautiful landscapes and locals’ plentiful daily activities and delicious food, the hamlet has lured crowds of visitors. Sung hamlet is around 21 km from Da Bac township. Visitors can also take a boat to Ke hamlet in Hien Luong commune and then walk for 18km to Cao Son commune, contemplating Bieu mountain, Lo Lan cave, pristine forests and yellow rice fields on the way.
In Sung hamlet, tourists can engage in locals’ daily activities such as farming, fishing, dancing and sports games; or taste their traditional food such as chicken, fish and wine.
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.
