The life of Mong people in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes of Mai Chau district has improved much thanks to tourism development.
Tourists visit the Mong ethnic market in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province.
The two communes usually become much busier on weekends when domestic and foreign tourists flock to experience and explore the local daily life.
Phang A Pao, a farmer in Cha Day hamlet, Pa Co commune, said that since 2017, his family and some households in the hamlet have combined agricultural production with community-based tourism development. Their daily life and production such as growing rice, harvesting Shan Tuyet tea, dyeing indigo, painting beeswax, and making paper are utilised and exploited as tourism products.
In the last few years, transport infrastructure in the two communes has been improved, creating favourable conditions for tourism development. Tourists can easily travel to destinations by motorbikes, cars or coaches. Other infrastructure of telecommunication, electricity, clean water has been improved too together with attention being paid to increase quality of human resources for tourism, and financial support for ethnic minority households. With the effective preservation of traditional cultural values and natural resources, the two communes have become attractive tourist destinations.
Cao Thu Ha, a tourist from Hanoi, shared that she has travelled to the communes five or six times. Ha said she enjoy going to the market with the Mong people, practicing beeswax painting, eating hot fried sticky rice cakes and watching the sunrise on the mountain.
There are more than ten homestays in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes. Tourism development has created jobs and sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of local labourers. In Hang Kia commune, a community-based cooperative has been established while in Pa Co commune, homestay services providers established an association to support each other.
Community-based tourism sites in the two communes welcome visitors all year round with the high season falling in summer, long holidays, new year celebration of the Mong people and Lunar New Year.
They are also focusing on exploiting new and attractive tourism products associated with ethnic cultural identity to attract tourists, such as Mong ethnic cultural exchange night market, cloud watching or night camping in Hang Kia.
According to Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Pa Co commune Phang A Song, the community-based tourism models have significantly changed the life of local Mong people. Tourism development not only helps increase income for local residents but also contributes to better protection of natural resources as people are aware of the importance of keeping forests and creating ecological landscapes. Local unique cultural features are promoted while people can better sell agricultural specialties and handicrafts.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, visitors from near and far are eager to come to the mountainous district of Da Bac to have unique cultural experiences such as learning to wrap traditional cakes of ethnic minorities, practicing writing ancient Tay characters or immersing themselves in the Tay melodies.
Tan Lac has great potential for tourism development. In addition, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU, dated October 17, 2022, on building the highland communes in Tan Lac district into provincial-level tourism areas by 2030, with a vision to 2050. However, according to the assessment, implementing the goals in the spirit of Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU has had limited results.
Recognising that tourism and agriculture are local strengths, Mai Chau district is committed to building a green economy through an action program with specific pathways, achieving notable results in line with the resolution of the 26th Party Congress of the district.
With its majestic natural landscapes, diverse ethnic cultures, and numerous unique festivals, Hoa Binh province is an attractive destination that entices travellers from far and wide to explore and experience during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
Being held around the 30th of the 11th lunar month right after the harvest season ends, the traditional New Year of Mong ethnic group lasts until the last day of the 12th lunar month. On this occasion, the community tourism destinations of Pa Co and Hang Kia communes (Mai Chau) attract many visitors to experience and explore the unique customs of New Year.
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