Promoting the advantages of community tourism

Ke village in Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province is one of those new tourist destinations.

For many years, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province has been a contender in the tourism map of Vietnam. This place is always a favourite destination of tourists because of the magnificent beauty of the highlands, the climate, the pristine villages with unique stilt roofs imbued with the cultural identity of the local ethnicities: Thai, Mong, Muong...

Considered as one of the most interesting destinations of the Northwest, Mai Chau also preserves unique folk festivals that have been restored and maintained such as: Gau Tao Festival of the Mong people, Xen Muong festival of the Thai... with many attractive specialties such as: glazed wine, green pickled fish, purple garlic, Son Thuy taro, Shan Tuyet tea... The natural scenery, cultural space, and the closeness and hospitality of the locals has left an indelible impression in the hearts of visitors.

Mai Chau has 7 community tourist sites including Lac village (Chieng Chau commune), Buoc village (Xam Khoe commune), Van village, Pom Coong village (Mai Chau town), Hich village (Mai Hich commune), Pa Co village (Pa Co commune) and Hang Kia village (Hang Kia commune). In the first 6 months of 2021, Mai Chau’s total revenue from tourism activities reached 222 billion VND.

Speaking of Hoa Binh, it is impossible not to mention the Song Da lake area - the largest artificial lake in Southeast Asia, with charming natural scenery, approved by the Prime Minister in the Master Plan on developing the country’s tourism.

Recently, Hoa Binh Provincial People’s Committee held an online conference to announce the general planning on the construction of Hoa Binh Lake National Tourist Area, scheduled to have been finished by 2035. Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area has been identified as an important national tourism area for its unique tourism products, ethnic cultures and the ecosystem of Hoa Binh Lake providing various types of tourism.

This is also an ecological zone, responsible for the main functions of national and inter-regional technical infrastructure (Hoa Binh Hydroelectricity, Hoa Binh Lake, electricity supply, water supply, flood regulation, water protection...) and is a key area for economic and tourism development of Hoa Binh province. The development space of Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area is formed on the basis of the mountainous landscape space, natural ecosystem, cultural and spiritual values ​​associated with Hoa Binh lakebed.

In addition, Hoa Binh is also famous for mineral water in Kim Boi, Lac Son and Yen Thuy districts of 2 groups of Bicabonate and Sulfatcalcium mineral water of soluble origin, which is very valuable for developing resorts. Meanwhile, 4 nature reserves Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong, Hang Kia - Pa Co, Thuong Tien, Phu Canh are very suitable for developing adventure tourism, eco-tourism, resort ...

With the potential and advantages of tourism, the number of tourists and income from tourism activities in the province recently achieved a good growth rate. In the period 2016 - 2020, the province has welcomed more than 12,500 thousand tourists. The average growth rate from 2016 to 2019 increased by 10.7%. However, in 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of tourists decreased, reaching only 65.5% of the plan. Total revenue from tourists to the province reached over 7,700 billion VND. This is a fast and steady increase.

Deploying multiple solutions synchronously

In Ke hamlet, there are three community-based homestays with good service to welcome guests in their traditional houses of the Hoa Binh mountainous culture.

Identifying tourism as a key economic sector, over the years, Hoa Binh province has focused on implementing many solutions to attract attention and invest in tourism development.

The province has 72 valid tourism investment projects, accounting for 12.2% of the total number of projects in the province with a total registered investment capital of about VND 20,594 billion. Many new eco-tourism zones and attractions have been built, such as: Mai Chau Hideway, Mai Chau Ecolodge, Bakhan Village Resort (Mai Chau); Ho Du resort and Sunset resort eco-tourism area (Luong Son); An Lac Farm and Serena Resort (Kim Boi) …

The functional sectors effectively carry out promotion and attract domestic and foreign investors to set up tourism development projects such as: Cable car project and golf entertainment complex (Ho Chi Minh City). Hoa Binh), Mai Da Resort and the project of afforestation combining eco-tourism and Hien Luong resort (Da Bac); Hoa Binh Lake Eco-tourism and Resort and Sword Lake Eco-Tourist Da River (Tan Lac) ...

Currently, the province is focusing on giving priority to several large corporations such as Sungroup, Tan Hoang Minh, FLC to research, survey and set up large-scale and high-quality projects in Hoa Binh Lake tourist area and Kim district. Boi, Lac Son according to the plan.

The People's Committee of Hoa Binh province has promulgated the Project to develop community-based tourism in association with new rural construction until 2030. In which, it emphasizes the potential for community-based tourism development and solutions to bring community-based tourism into the mainstream. attractive destination, associated with preserving and promoting cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, preserving natural landscapes, and protecting the environment.

In addition, the Provincial People's Committee has also invested in building and upgrading the road transport infrastructure system, wharves, parking lots, rest stops for tourists on national highways 6 and Ho Chi Minh Road, Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh City. To build inland waterway ports in Hoa Binh Lake area and waterways in the province to connect with other provinces in the region.

Currently, the Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh city route has been completed and put into operation; is implementing the project of Hoa Binh hydropower plant expansion at Ba Level port area; upgrading the route to Ba Level port, expanding and upgrading provincial road 435 passing through Binh Thanh, Thung Nai (Cao Phong) and Suoi Hoa (Tan Lac) communes with a length of 24.8 km. This is a solid foundation, a favorable factor for sustainable and long-term tourism development.

Along with that, the province focuses on effectively implementing investment promotion and tourism development, creating favorable conditions for businesses and people to participate. Encourage organizations, units and businesses to invest in developing cultural, ecological, spiritual and sports tourism...

Many people doing business in tourism services are supported by the State to invest in facilities, train and foster tourism skills in hamlets with community tourist spots. Since then, gradually perfecting the picture of lively community-based tourism, creating stable income for local people.

In order to promote digital transformation in the tourism industry, Hoa Binh province deployed a smart tourism system consisting of 4 parts: Hoa Binh tourism portal system; Smart travel mobile application; Data integration infrastructure - tourism industry reporting system; installed 08 public wifi systems in 3 key tourist areas in the province: Hoa Binh Lake National Tourist Area, Mai Chau National Tourist Site, Chua Tien, and Lac Thuy Tourist Areas.

Through the smart tourism system, visitors to Hoa Binh can learn about the unique beauties and features of the landscape as well as the people of Hoa Binh. This is a bridge to help tourism businesses increase interaction with tourists and form new tour routes. At the same time, it is also an address for state management agencies to supervise, operate and interact with units, organizations and individuals operating in the field of tourism.

Minh Phuc

Hoa Binh: attractive destination for investors

In an effort to attract investment, especially from the start-up community and young entrepreneurs, the authorities of Hoa Binh province have issued special incentive policies.