Despite starting to develop tourism later than some other localities, with the potential described as having both "Sa Pa and Ha Long Bay” in the midst of mountains as well as a typical cultural identity and a new direction, Da Bac district is gradually winning the hearts of travellers.
A high-end and modern resort attractive to tourists in
Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district.
At present, though Da Bac has yet to be truly
popular on the tourism map of Vietnam, such local names as Sung and Da Bia
hamlets, Lord Thac Bo Temple, or some resorts like Mo Village, Vayang Retreat,
Maida Lodge, and Xoan Retreat have proved attractive to travel lovers.
Ban Kim Quy, Vice Chairman of the Da Bac
People’s Committee, said that instead of rushing to tourism development that
may ruin natural landscapes, the district opted to capitalise on its advantages
in agriculture, rural areas, culture, and ecological environment. It has
shifted from pure agricultural production to agricultural economy connected
with developing services and tourism in the vicinity of Hoa Binh Lake so as to
gradually improve the quality of residents’ material and spiritual lives.
He noted Da Bac is focusing on equipping locals
with tourism skills and, especially, recovering, preserving, and bringing into
play ethnic groups’ traditional cultures to sustainably develop tourism and
generate high economic benefits.
There are now 30 accommodation establishments
across the district, including 18 homestay facilities, 11 hotels, and one
two-star hotel. Da Bac welcomed 170,100 tourist arrivals and earned over 80 billion
VND (3.1 million USD) in tourism revenue last year. Both figures increased
during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023.
Da Bac targets more than 550,000 visitors and
165 billion VND in tourism revenue in 2025. It looks to raise the respective
figures to over 660,000 and 198 billion VND by 2030, Quy added.
Nguyen Van Toan, Standing Vice Chairman of the
Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee, said Hoa Binh Lake spans five
district-level localities, of which Da Bac is home to the largest water surface
area. The lake has met three of the five criteria for a national tourism area –
a status the province hopes to secure by 2030.
Sixteen service, culture, and tourism investment
projects in the lake’s vicinity have been licensed or granted investment
certificates so far. They cover about 1,444ha of land and have total investment
of over 3.3 trillion VND. The projects aim to meet tourism, relaxation, and
entertainment demand at the same time with planting and protecting forest and
preserving culture.
The provincial administration will strongly
direct relevant agencies and sectors to provide maximum procedural assistance
for the projects to be carried out on schedule. Besides, authorities will also
exert efforts in completing transport, tourism, and communication
infrastructure to create momentum for the accommodation system and tourism
products to develop quickly and contribute to local growth, Toan remarked.
As the new year begins and festive spirit fills the air, visitors flock to Hoa Binh lake, often dubbed the "Ha Long Bay on land," to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and serene atmosphere. In spring, the lake comes alive with lush greenery and delicate blossoms, while boats carrying eager tourists glide across its tranquil waters.
With effective business operations, significant increases in the number of visitors at weekends and on public holidays, and being listed among the 71 most beautiful places to visit worldwide by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, Hoa Binh’s tourism is "spreading its wings" on its journey towards the targets of welcoming 4.9 million visitors, including 1 million foreigners, and achieving total tourism revenue of 5.4 trillion VND (211.89 million USD) in 2025.
On February 21, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to implement the tourism plan in 2025 and meet with tourism businesses operating in the province. The event was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Head of the Provincial Tourism Steering Committee.
Tien Pagoda is located in the valley of Lao Noi and Lao Ngoai villages, Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district; it is surrounded by two mountain ranges stretching like two giant dragons reaching for the blue sky. Every year, when spring comes, thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all over the country make a pilgrimage to Tien Pagoda. The relic complex of Tien Pagoda is ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with 21 relic sites of many types: historical and cultural relics, scenic relics, and archaeological relics.
Cao Phong has paid due attention to developing tourism, creating impetus for socio-economic development towards completing the targets set in the resolution of the district’s 28th Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.
A great number of visitors have flocked to tourist attractions in Hoa Binh province in the first lunar month every year to admire the beautiful scenery, fully enjoy the spring atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere in many localities.
