Thanks to its beautiful landscape and fresh climate, along with folk culture, unique festivals, and traditional handicrafts imbued with the culture of ethnic groups in the Northwestern region, Mai Chau district has emerged as an ideal community tourism destination.
Tourists on a raft on Xia stream, Mai Hich commune (Mai Chau district).
Lac hamlet in Chieng Chau commune is a must-visit site in Mai Chau. Aged more than 700 years old, it is home to a Thai ethnic community. Local residents have still preserved their traditional customs. The hamlet has welcomed foreign tourists since the 1960s, and been known as a "bright spot" on Vietnam's tourism map.
Others include Pom Coong hamlet in Mai Chau district, and Van hamlet, where visitors are treated to special dishes and facilitated to explore local culture.
Further, Hich hamlet in Mai Hich commune, about 12km from the centre of Mai Chau district, is another option. Holidaymakers will have a chance to learn about Thai people’s brocade weaving, enjoy local food, and ride boats on Xia stream.
Mai Chau markets attract those who want to explore traditional culture.
Coming to Buoc hamlet in Xam Khoe commune, visitors are not only overwhelmed with the green of nature but also able to relax themselves in palm hills, terraced fields, and kitchen smoke spreading.
Meanwhile, Mong people’s hamlets in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes are luring vacationers with markets held every Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Hoang Duc Minh, Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee, said over the past years, local authorities have restored many traditional cultural festivals to attract tourists.
Currently, the district counts more than 200 lodging businesses, including 30 resorts and hotels, and more than 170 homestays, with 15 hamlets offering tourism services.
Last year, Mai Chau served more than 500,000 visitors. Recently, the famous booking site Booking.com has announced the annual Traveler Review Award 2023 honouring Mai Chau as one of the 10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam in the year.
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.
