(HBO) - On the journey of "traveling to the mountains, enjoying the water” in Hoa Binh lake area, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the fair by the river. The fair usually opens before dawn and it does not take too long, so take advantage of going to the fair whenever you get a chance.
Once a week, the people in Doan Ket hamlet, Tien Phong commune (Da Bac) welcome the fair on the lake area to meet and exchange goods.
Recently, in order to help visitors have more vivid and complete experiences about the cultural identity of the lake area in general and the beauty of the fair in particular, Hoa Binh Tourism joint Stock Company has joined with the people of Ngoi village, Suoi Hoa commune (Tan Lac) to open a country fair. The purpose is to introduce and promote to domestic and international tourists and friends about the beauty of Hoa Binh lake area, the colorful fairs of life. Ms. Ngoc Lan, a tourist from Ha Noi is really interested: Actually, it is not easy to see a fair on the lake area like this. There are many interesting things for me when I come here, that is, being able to admire and taste the products of the mountains and rivers, to contact and talk with the farmers who make these products.
Exploring the fair with the bustling scene on the wharf, under the boat, in the middle of the vast mountains and rivers will surely bring visitors unforgettable experiences. Here, most of the products and goods are made by the people living on the lake area, many of which were previously self-supported. Some traders bring goods from the lowlands to sell and exchange items for the local people. They are mainly essential goods such as fish sauce, monosodium, salt, cooking oil and clothes, shoes, hats... More specifically, the fair clearly reflects the customs, the habits and the daily life of the local people. Mr. Quoc Khanh, a tourist from Vinh Phuc says: "Going to the fair here, I meet the local people, I know which season to collect a lot of bamboo shoots, Sang vegetables or honey in the forest, how to catch more shrimps, fish... Only when you have a lot of contact can you feel the simplicity, the gentleness, the hard-earned life, the closeness to nature, having the style of the people in the lake area.
On the vast Hoa Binh lake area, there are a number of riverside fairs such as Hat fair - Yen Hoa commune, Tup fair- Tien Phong commune (Da Bac), Tham fair - Suoi Hoa commune (Tan Lac). In addition, at community tourism sites such as Ke halmet - Hien Luong commune, Sung hamlet - Cao Son commune, Doan Ket hamlet - Tien Phong commune (Da Bac), there are convenient riverside fairs for tourists to visit on the journey to discover the villages. In the high-water season, the market boats are anchored at the river's edge. In addition to exchanging, buying and selling mainly on boats, there are also a number of stalls set up on the shore so that people can bring goods there to exchange. The goods that people in the lake area exchange most are the products from the river. The baskets of fresh fish and shrimp are hurriedly collected by traders.
The ideal time to experience the fair area on the lake is during summer and autumn, when the water ion the lake area s higher and clear. When it is just dawn, ships and boats land, and the vendors just finish packing. The people of all ethnic groups have also arranged and displayed things picked from the forest and raised from the river to welcome guests. It is a step to prepare for the start of the fair on the river, which is really exciting and bustling. The fair is like a familiar rhythm of life that is repeated and repeated and it has become a unique cultural feature of the daily life and the economic exchange in the localities within Hoa Binh lake area. For many visitors, the fair brings a special feeling when floating on the boat, immersing in the vast river region, feeling the cultural space of the mountainous ethnic villages and welcoming a new day full of excitement.
Spanning thousands of hectares and winding gracefully along mountain slopes, hillsides, and riverbanks, the terraced rice fields of Lac Son District present a stunning and captivating beauty. This region, renowned for its remarkable terraced landscapes, is also the centre of Hoa Binh Culture known for numerous archaeological sites.
The life of Mong people in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes of Mai Chau district has improved much thanks to tourism development.
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.
In the first 9 months of 2024, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province welcomed over 684 thousand visitors to visit and relax. In which, over 516 thousand domestic visitors and more than 168 thousand international visitors. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at over 821 billion VND.
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.
