With the diverse cultural identities of the Muong, Tay, Dao, and Thai ethnic groups and endowed with natural beauty, the mountainous district of Da Bac has been gradually developing tourism in association with preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

In addition to community-based tourism attractions, resorts and eco-tourism areas have been invested and put into operation in the district, offering tourist products. Party committees and local authorities pay attention to annual festival activities such as the Dao people’s New Year festival in Cao Son commune, the Thac Bo temple festival in Vay Nua commune, the Muong bridge festival in Muong Chieng commune and many other small festivals to increase tourism attraction.



Photo: Tourists experience dyeing to create brocade in Sung hamlet, Cao Son commune, Da Bac district.

According to Nguyen Van Toan, head of the Culture and Information Department of Da Bac district, local scenic spots are being exploited to serve tourism development. For example, Thac Bo temple in Vay Nua commune, the place to worship Dinh Thi Van - a woman who helped people and soldiers transport food through Thac Bo to Muong Le (in neighbouring Son La province). Visitors to the temple usually make pilgrimages, pray for fortune and good luck, go sightseeing, and enjoy the fresh air there.

 

Meanwhile, when visiting the nearby Coconut island, visitors can walk around the island, visit orchards, enjoy fruits, sail surrounding the island, enjoy local specialties and stay overnight in lovely stilt houses.

A scenic spot that is popular with many tourists, especially foreigners, is the 1,580-ha Pu Canh Nature Reserve spaaning the communes of Doan Ket, Yen Hoa, Dong Ruong and Dong Chum. The reserve boasts rich flora and fauna ecosystems, waterfalls, streams and primary forests. The Tay and Muong ethnic people live at the foot of the Pu Canh mountain with various unique cultural features from costumes, scripts, and cuisine plus gentle and friendly native people, which are favourable conditions to develop eco-tourism, and experiential and adventure tourism.

Since 2017, households in villages along Hoa Binh lake have developed community-based tourism, for example, Sac Luyen, Sanh Thuan, Huu Thao, and Ha Khanh homestays in Ke hamlet, Hien Luong commune.

Using the homestay service, tourists can experience life with the Muong ethnic people, and take physical activities such as cycling, swimming, kayaking, and go fishing.

Several popular resorts in the districts are Mai Da Lodge in Doan Ket hamlet - Tien Phong commune; Xoan Retreat Da Bac in Mo hamlet, Da Bac Ecolodge in Mai hamlet, Hien Luong commune; and Ho Tam homestay in Cao Son commune.

In addition, visitors to Da Bac can explore beautiful caves and waterfalls, such as Lo Lan cave in Hien Luong commune, Ho Vang cave in Nanh Nghe commune, Sung cave in Cao Son commune, Bong waterfall in Tan Minh commune.

Through communications and promotion programmes by the locality, project investors and especially the Da Bac Community Tourism joint Stock Company, local tourism is witnessing significant development. Currently, there are tourism programmes for tourist groups including a three-day tour to explore the customs and nature of the Muong ethnic group in Da Bac and Tan Lac; a two-day tour to explore the customs and nature of the Muong ethnic area in Ke and Da Bia hamlets; the two-day tour named "Sacred Forest Footprints” to explore the traditional culture and pristine nature of the Dao Tien people in Sung hamlet.

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