Vietnam’s northwestern region is at its most beautiful in spring when peach, apricot, and plum flowers are in full bloom. As local people have gotten more involved in tourism, the region has started to attract an increasing number of visitors.

Northwestern tours mushroom in spring

Northwestern provinces have been focusing on community tourism. Doan Van Chi, Deputy Director of the Dien Bien Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said, "Since the 50th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory in 2004, our province has promoted tours of ethnic villages. We have built 8 cultural villages and 10 more are taking shape to attract more visitors to the province.”

In Yen Bai province, Ngoi Tu hamlet was the first one to offer community tours. In 10 years, 120 households across the province have gotten involved. 

Hoang Thi Loan of the Thai ethnic group in Sa Ren hamlet says that more than 100 visitors a month visit and stay in her house. Visitors do farm work with the family, sing, dance and eat local dishes like five-colored sticky rice, dried meat, and wild vegetables. 

“We introduce the traditional customs and food of our ethnic group to visitors and take them around the village. They like Thai food very much,” Loan says. 

Of the 5 Vietnamese homestay services recognized by ASEAN in 2017, 3 are in the northwest. They are homestay clusters in Ta Van Giay in Lao Cai, Mai Hich in Hoa Binh, and Nam Dam in Ha Giang.

VOV5