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.
Terraced fields in the ripen rice season in Mien Doi commune, Lac Son district, attract tourists to explore.
According to the "Terraced rice fields of the Muong people in Hoa Binh" heritage research project in 2021, the majority of the Muong's rice fields are located in Cao Phong, Tan Lac, and Lac Son districts. Among these, the terraced fields of Lac Son have been identified as the core area, featuring hundreds of plots of various sizes in an incredibly scenic landscape. Here, the practice of rice cultivation on terraced fields coexists with deeply rooted spiritual traditions passed down through generations, creating a rich material life and a sustainable ecosystem.
In comparison to other highland communes with preserved terraced fields, the mountainous area of Mien Doi boasts the most distinctive landscapes, covering approximately 800ha across several hamlets, including Thay Voi, Rom Bai, Renh, Than Tren, Than Duoi, Voi Thuong, and Voi Ha. Interspersed among these terraced fields are breathtaking waterfalls, which are some hundreds of meters high, along with small forests and traditional stilt houses, creating a harmonious scene where nature and humans coexist.
When talking about beautiful terraced fields, one cannot overlook those in the hamlets of Theu, Ve, Cu, Ngoc, Kem, Roi, and Doi Thung in Quy Hoa commune, which span around 300ha. These fields sit at elevations ranging from 300 to 750m, where the higher terrain features older natural forests, and the steeper fields blend seamlessly with the environment. In My Thanh commune, there are about 320 hectares divided into two main areas, namely the Co area and the hamlets of Pheo, Riec, Bo Ca, and Xi. Some plots run along the provincial road to Kim Boi, while others are nestled among villages, foothills and forested areas at elevations of 200 to 400m, creating a nice picture.
According to Nguyen The Hung, head of the Culture and Information Division of Lac Son district, the unique characteristics of the terraced field landscape in the Muong Vang region are the extensive and beautiful rice fields, interspersed with forests and the villages of the Muong people that have not been affected by urbanisation. The beauty of the terraced fields is complemented by the unspoiled nature surrounding them, featuring unique karst mountains, waterfalls, caves, grasslands, and hot springs. Additionally, the terraced fields are well-connected by inter-district transport routes, enhancing their accessibility for regional tourism.
The terraced rice fields are also an integral part of the cultural landscape, reflecting local customs, lifestyles, and the living spaces of the Muong community. The area is home to numerous archaeological sites that could serve as tourist attractions, such as the Trai hamlet cave in Tan Lap commune and rock carvings in the Grass hamlet of My Thanh commune. Currently, local authorities are actively promoting awareness among residents to protect and preserve these landscapes. They also focus on reviving and showcasing traditional festivals, particularly those related to rice cultivation, while promoting the tourism potential of these terraced fields. Attention is being paid to conservation and gradually develop tourism products.
With the terraced rice fields highlighting the stunning beauty of the mountainous region, Lac Son district is attracting tourists and various businesses interested in eco-tourism. Notably, the Sun Group has decided to invest in developing a high-end ecological resort at Doi Thung and Kha hot spring resort with a total investment of several trillion Vietnamese dong.
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.
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.
