Together with community-based tourism, Mai Chau district is focusing on developing eco-resort tourism around Hoa Binh lake in Son Thuy commune.
Tourists enjoy kayaking on Hoa Binh lake.
Son Thuy commune - home to Muong and Thai ethnic groups - still retains untouched nature with rolling mountains and peaceful villages along Hoa Binh lake, thus attracting tourists, especially young backpackers. In the winter, the area is often blanketed with thick fog, reminding many people of the famous resort town of Sa Pa in the northern province of Lao Cai.
Rich natural resources and unique cultural identity are advantages for the commune to develop tourism. Initially, some backpackers discovered the area and came to explore the area. Later, some businesses surveyed and invested in building hotels and resorts to meet the high-end tourist market segment.
Notably, Mai Chau Hideaway resort and Ba Khan Village in Son Thuy commune affirmed their positions in attracting visitors to the Hoa Binh lake tourist area in particular and Hoa Binh tourism in general.
Ha Thi Lieu, deputy head of the Culture and Information Department of Mai Chau district, said that the formation of high-end ecological resort destinations helps increase the attractiveness of the Hoa Binh lake tourist site, promoting local tourism. Some households in the area have provided homestay services for tourists, offering more choices to experience local culture. Local eco-resorts have recovered strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring investors to continue to seek investment opportunities.
Resorts and hotels in the tourist area attract tourists all year round, the room occupancy rate ranges from 50 - 70% on working days, and 90 - 100% on weekends. In particular, Mai Chau Hideaway is preferred by international visitors with about 70% of its guests coming from European and American countries.
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.
Currently, in the region of Mong ethnic people, Hang Kia commune (Mai Chau) is exploiting the community tourism activities relatively effectively. The tourism economy has been sustainably developing, basing on the potential and advantages of the natural resources and traditional cultural identity. The model is increasingly being replicated, creating changes in awareness, and contributing to the progressive changes in people's lives.
