Boasting stunning landscapes, and standout cultural traits, many localities across Hoa Binh province have developed unique offerings to bolster rural tourism.
Activities of the herbal medicine production group in Sung village, Cao Son commune, Da Bac district have been an attractive tourism offering for visitors.
A wide range of new offerings have been developed in Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, renowned for its untouched landscapes, and excellent cultural practice and customs of the Dao ethnic people, with the support of a non-governmental organisation.
The village set up brocade weaving groups, and herbal medicine and "do” paper production teams to serve visitors.
According to Ly Thi Nhat from a brocade weaving group, the establishment of the groups help locals introduce their products to visitors and create new tourism products to improve their livelihoods sustainably. She said herbal massage balms, mosquito repellent sprays, and brocade bags, among others, have been favoured by many tourists.
Meanwhile, Ngoi village in Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district, inhabited by the Muong ethnic people, has branched out its community-based tourism, attracting visitors from far and wide to experience local food, caged fish farming, and experience net fishing.
Hoa Binh is now home to more than 20 community-based tourism hamlets and villages, five of which have been recognised as three or four-star OCOP products. Many farms have provided lodging and experiential service for visitors, including An Lac Eco Farm Hot and Springs in Kim Boi district, and Happy Farm in Luong Son district. Furthermore, various agro-cultural tours have been set up in craft villages across the province.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bui Xuan Truong said the province has accelerated its rural tourism development programme in recent years, with many high-quality offerings having launched to serve tourists.
However, the province has countered many challenges while carrying out the scheme such as inharmonious development of rural tourism infrastructure, and limited connectivity among tourism activities in many areas.
In the coming time, the province will provide resource support for rural tourism, with a focus on the training of the labour force, promotion of digital transformation, and enhancement of inter-sectoral coordination, and international cooperation in the area, while developing more OCOP products, and shaping up a value chain that engage experience tourism and eco-tourism, he added.
Leveraging the natural landscapes and the cultural identity of the ethnic minority communities, many rural areas in Hoa Binh province have developed the unique tourism products to promote rural tourism (RT).
The People's Committee of Hoa Binh province hosted a conference on August 22 to evaluate the implementation of a project to develop Hoa Binh Lake tourist area into a national tourist area by 2025. Nguyen Van Toan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee and head of the steering committee for implementing the project, presided over the conference.
In recent years, Hoa Binh province has rolled out a rural tourism development programme to tap into the potential of its rural areas. This policy has played a crucial role in boosting the local economy, enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of new rural area building efforts.
Kim Boi district, identified as a key zone of tourism, urban, and service development, has been coordinating with relevant sectors and units to carry out various measures on planning, investment attraction, tourism product development, and brand building to maximise its distinctive tourism potential and advantages.
Since the beginning of the year, Mai Chau district has focused on organizing the numerous major events of culture, sport, and tourism, highlighting the local ethnic cultural identity to attract visitors and stimulate the local tourism.
In recent years, based on the community tourism models of the Dao people in Cao Son commune and the Muong people in Hien Luong and Tien Phong communes, the authority of Da Bac district has built a model of this kind in the Tay ethnic community in Thu Lu hamlet, Giap Dat commune.
