(HBO) – Da River, which runs along imposing mountains and primeval forests and connects Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces, boasts huge potential to develop cultural, eco and spiritual tourism, thus helping improve local livelihoods. Building tourist attractions along the river is seen as a key task in tourism development.

A series of tourist attractions have been set up around the 600 square kilometre Hoa Binh reservoir which spans residential areas of Mong, Thai and Lu ethnic minority groups in Lai Chau province. Those include Sin Ho village with excellent cultural features of Mong ethnic people, King Le Thai To Temple which was recognised as a national treasure, and Pu Dao commune, lying at the height of 1,400 metres above sea level with breathtaking natural landscapes.


Meanwhile, excellent dances and swallow tail boat race can be seen in Muong Lay commune (Dien Bien province).


Hoa Binh reservoir has gorgeous natural landscapes with a range of tourist destinations. Photo: Thac Bo Temple in Thung Nai commune (Cao Phong district) and Vay Nua commune (Da Bac district).


Hoa Binh reservoir plays an important role in Hoa Binh province’s tourism development plan. The Prime Minister has approved a master plan to develop the Hoa Binh reservoir into a national tourism site. Accordingly, studying and experiencing the culture of the Muong ethnic minority in parallel with the reservoir’s ecosystem are seen as typical tourism products in the locality.


Community-based tourism has been a magnet for both domestic and foreign visitors. Famous community-based tourism villages in the province are Ngoi hamlet in Ngoi Hoa commune; Da Bia hamlet in Tien Phong commune (Da Bac district), Ke and Sung hamlets (Da Bac), Dua (Coconut) island, Thung Nai (Cao Phong), Thac Bo Temple in Vay Nua commune (Da Bac).



Foreign visitors discover tourism route connecting Ke hamlet in Hien Luong commune to Sung hamlet in Cao Son commune.


The provincial People’s Committees of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien along Da River have preferential policies and mechanisms to attract enterprises, organisations and individuals to pour investment in local tourism. They should work to evaluate tourism development potential, form sets of solutions to implement major tourism infrastructure projects.


Waterway tourism through Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces, Hoa Binh-Son La tourism programme and Lai Chau-Dien Bien-Son La tourism programme must be paid due attention as well.

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