Tan Lac district’s three highland communes of Quyet Chien, Ngo Luong, and Van Son sit at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level. Known for their wide forest coverage and rich biodiversity, the areas boast a cool, temperate climate in summer and is home to several scenic spots and caves recognised as provincial and national heritage sites. Besides, the region still preserves the cultural traditions of the Muong ethnic group, alongside a variety of agricultural products, which add to its unique appeal for visitors.
With picturesque landscapes and well-preserved Muong
culture, Chien hamlet in Van Son commune is attractive to tourists seeking
cultural experiences.
Recognising the potential of the areas, the provincial Party
Committee’s Standing Board issued Resolution No. 13/NQ-BTV on October 17, 2022,
aiming to transform Tan Lac’s highland communes into a provincial-level tourist
destination by 2030, with a vision towards 2050. Initial progress has been
made, with local residents increasingly aware of the benefits of tourism
development.
Bui Minh Hong, head of the Tan Lac Culture and Information
Office, explained that the district has focused on building model
community-based tourism sites in the three hamlets of Hay Duoi in Van Son
commune, Bac Thung in Quyet Chien commune, and Luong Ca in Ngo Luong commune.
Two surveys were conducted to disseminate tourism development policies in the
communes, while training sessions were held for 287 households across the
selected hamlets.
As of the end of August, three households in Hay Duoi had
upgraded their homes to offer homestay services. In Bac Thung, two out of three
households have completed renovations and can now accommodate up to 35 guests
per day, while a new camping site was established, attracting 300-500 visitors
per day on weekends. In Luong Ca, five households have registered to offer
lodging services.
The district is working on a project to pilot
community-based tourism that highlights the Muong cultural identity in Van Son,
and on a programme to develop ecological and recreational tourism services in
the Ngoc Son-Ngo Luong nature reserve for 2021-2030. At the same time, efforts
are underway to mobilise resources and integrate funding sources to improve
tourism-related infrastructure.
The province’s 2021-2025 medium-term public investment plan
includes transport infrastructure projects aimed at facilitating transport,
goods flows, tourism, healthcare, and education across Tan Lac. A new budget of
17 billion VND (687,284 USD) has been added to launch projects focusing on the
three highland communes, as part of the National Target Programme for
Socioeconomic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for
2021-2025.
However, challenges remain. The quality of transport
infrastructure remains modest while tourism infrastructure, including power,
water supply, sanitation, and telecommunications, is underdeveloped. The
communes still lack waste collection and disposal systems, as well as standard
clean water supply.
The man-made Hoa Binh Lake, with a water surface area of approximately 9,000 hectares and a capacity of 9.45 billion cubic meters, stretches over 200 kilometers from Hoa Binh to Son La provinces. With the goal of developing into a national tourism area, the Hoa Binh Lake tourism area is expected to not only become the largest tourism centre in the province but also one of the 12 key tourist destinations in the northern midland and mountainous region of Vietnam.
Da Bia hamlet, now Duc Phong, in Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district, was once almost isolated from the outside as the only way to the hamlet was to get a boat ride across the Hoa Binh reservoir. However, as its tourism potential has been unleashed, the hamlet has established itself as one of the most attractive destinations on the tourism map. It has even received the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Awards in 2019.
Da Bac district, bestowed with stunning landscapes, is developing ecological and resort tourism offerings. Several tourist sites, put into operation this year, has attracted throngs of high-spending and young domestic visitors.
In the first nine months of 2024, Da Bac district has intensified efforts in preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups in tandem with community-based tourism development. Many cultural tourism products have been built on the basis of preserving and maintaining the architecture of ethnic minority houses as well as traditional crafts such as making do (poonah) paper, brocade weaving, embroidery, and indigo dyeing.
The survey on selecting and developing the new tourism products and tours.
On September 27th and 28th, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism collaborated with Hanoi Unesco Travel Club to organize a survey program to select and develop the new tourism products and tours that highlight the unique features of the lake region in Da Bac district. The survey group included the experts for developing the tourism product, the members of the Vietnam Travel Club, the Vietnam Travel Association, the representatives from businesses, travel companies, domestic and international tourism operators, and media agencies from both inside and outside the province.
Blessed with a stunning natural landscape, fresh air, and a unique cultural identity, Mai Chau district, where the Thai people make up over 60% of its population, has located itself on the Vietnamese tourism map with community tourism.