Boasting a majestic landscape with 47 large and small islands, which spread across five districts and cities in the province and attractive destinations, Hoa Binh Lake tourist site is bustling with tourists in Spring.
Tourists take boat trip for sightseeing and attend Bo temple festival on Hoa Binh Lake tourist site
Since the beginning of the lunar new year, the highlight of visitors’ journey is to check in with the dragon mascot at Hoa Binh Square in Hoa Binh city and visit Hoa Binh Lake tourist site. Currently, there are two main wharves that are available for visitors to tour the site in the Spring, namely Bich Ha Wharf in Hoa Binh city and Thung Nai Wharf in Cao Phong district.
Nguyen Thi Hang, a tourist from Hanoi said this is the first time she has come to Hoa Binh and also her first trip of the new year. Taking a boat ride on Hoa Binh Lake makes her feel pleasant as the scenery is so beautiful, Hang said, adding that the undulating large and small islands remind her of Ha Long Bay.
Hang said that she loves the atmosphere here and she will invite her friends and colleagues to the tourism site with her to have more wonderful experience in the coming time. In addition to the spiritual tourist attractions of Chua Thac Bo Temple, Co Temple and Cau Temple, community-based tourism villages and eco-resorts on Hoa Binh Lake tourist site also lured a lot of visitors. A number of items at Chua Thac Bo Temple have recently been upgraded to create a venue for tourists to worship and sight-seeing, leaving a good impression on visitors.
According to Bui Van Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the Thung Nai communal People's Committee (Cao Phong district), many visitors have arrived at Bo Temple since the first day of the lunar new year. Nearly 100 boats in Thung Nai wharf area operate throughout the day to meet the demand of tourists.
In addition to visiting the Bo temple festival, many tourist delegations book boats to explore Tien Cave, Ngoi Hoa Bay (Tan Lac), Sung island (Da Bac), Ngoc island (Cao Phong), Xoan Retreat, Maida Logde (Da Bac), Mai Chau Hideaway and Ba Khan Village Resort (Mai Chau).
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bui Xuan Truong said Hoa Binh Lake tourist site is one of the attractive destinations of the locality and the northwest region, elaborating that it has met three out of five criteria of a national tourist site.
Along with the waterway on the Da River that runs through Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces, Hoa Binh has opened routes for trekking and cycling along the river in Tan Lac, Mai Chau and Da Bac districts and built a vacation programme with many interesting activities.
The province also strengthens the connection between Hoa Binh Lake tourist site and other destinations in the locality and the northwest route. Apart from tours around Hoa Binh Lake associated with exploring some destinations in Hoa Binh city, the Hoa Binh lake - Bo waterfall – Mieng cave tourist route which connects Hoa Binh and Son La provinces, is also favoured by many tourists.
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.