Bien Ho builds a model for tourism

Unique indigenous cultural resources

The merger of Nghia Hung, Ha Bau, Chu Dang Ya and Bien Ho communes into Bien Ho commune has created a potential, unique and diverse tourist area. After the arrangement, Bien Ho commune has a total natural area of 170.44 km2 with 40 hamlets and villages, including 22 ethnic minority villages. Each village is a unique cultural - historical - natural "piece", contributing to creating a colorful overall picture.

With 41% of the population being ethnic minorities, Bien Ho commune has a valuable foundation to build unique tourism products imbued with the Central Highlands, from exploring cultural life, participating in festivals, performing gongs, learning about traditional crafts, to enjoying traditional cuisine ... At the same time, forming a tourism model with the direct participation of indigenous people.

Phung Village Brocade Weaving Club attracts many groups of tourists to visit and learn about traditional weaving products. **Photo: Tran Dung**

Ms. R'Com H'Myu - President of the Women's Union of Bien Ho Commune - said: In 2022, the Phung Village Brocade Weaving Club was established with 20 female members to preserve the traditional weaving profession of the nation. The Women's Union and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune allocated funds and called on benefactors to support more than 50 million VND to buy looms and some brocade weaving materials for members. At the same time, actively introduce the Club's products at local cultural events.

Artisan Rơ Lan Pel - Head of Phung Village Brocade Weaving Club - shared: “Brocade weaving has long been associated with Jrai women and is the pride of the people of Bien Ho commune. I use my family's living room as a place to display the brocade products of the club. This place has become a favorite destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The brocade products made by the club members are durable and beautiful, and are favored by customers who order them as souvenirs when visiting Bien Ho commune. This not only creates an additional income of 3 - 5 million VND/person/month but also motivates women to maintain the traditional weaving profession of the nation”.

Thanks to the establishment of the Brocade Weaving Club, Phung village women have more opportunities to exchange, learn experiences and preserve the traditional craft of the nation. **Photo: Tran Dung**

Lots of room for developing various types of tourism

The tourism development potential of Bien Ho commune is based on many advantages such as: large area, diverse and rich cultural identity... The commune has important landscapes such as: Bien Ho - "Pleiku's eyes"; Chu Dang Ya volcano - the place associated with the wild sunflower festival; Chu Nam mountain; Tan Son lake; Bien Ho tea hill; hundred-year-old pine trees. Besides, the commune has Central Highlands cultural characteristics such as gong festival, communal house, water drops...; spiritual tourist destinations such as Tien Son Parish Church, Duc Ba Bien Ho Parish Church, Ha Bau old church relic, Buu Minh ancient pagoda.

The annual Chu Dang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Week attracts a large number of visitors. **Photo: Le Nam**

The Bien Ho - Chu Dang Ya tourist area was included by the Government in the list of potential locations for national tourism development. The representative of the Department of Construction said: In terms of potential, the Bien Ho - Chu Dang Ya tourist area has two main tourism cores, which are the Bien Ho Ecological Area in the South and the Chu Dang Ya crater in the North. This is an area with favorable terrain, beautiful landscapes with a large and diverse water surface area; an area with many potential tourist destinations with ranked historical relics; has advantages for tourism development, especially eco-tourism and resorts.

At a recent working session with Bien Ho commune, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Rah Lan Chung said: Bien Ho commune after the merger has a large area and population, converging many majestic tourist attractions, opening up opportunities to form a complete, diverse and rich tourism space. Bien Ho commune can simultaneously develop many types of tourism typical of the Central Highlands. In the development roadmap, the commune needs to calculate and propose plans to exploit the potential for tourism development. At the same time, the commune needs to form plans to calculate and develop experiential activities, accommodation, form destinations, connect tourists, etc.

“If we know how to connect villages, preserve original values and upgrade infrastructure to welcome visitors, Bien Ho can completely become a typical cultural - ecological - community destination of Gia Lai” - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Rah Lan Chung emphasized.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/bien-ho-xay-dung-mo-hinh-kieu-mau-ve-du-lich-post561693.html