'Awakening' Phinh Ho Lake

In Ta Chu village, Sung A Rua was busy picking young tea buds still covered in dew. He smiled kindly: "Before, people only picked tea to sell retail, and the income wasn't much. Since the establishment of the Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea Cooperative, the tea has been purchased steadily at a high price, and my family earns over 40 million dong each year. Life has improved a lot."

Đánh thức Phình Hồ - Ảnh 1. — Phinh Ho will build a brand for Shan Tuyet tea.

The story of Mr. Rùa is a vivid testament to the changes taking place in this region of over 300-year-old Shan Tuyet tea plantations.

A land of great potential

Phinh Ho currently has 322 hectares of Shan Tuyet tea, including 115 hectares of ancient tea trees casting their shade amidst the vast forest. Tea plants have been closely associated with the lives of the Mong people for generations, and now they have been elevated to a specialty product, receiving geographical indication certification from the Intellectual Property Office: "Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea".

In recent years, the establishment of the Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea Cooperative has brought about a significant transformation. The cooperative links nearly 40 households, organizing the purchase, processing, and production of specialty teas such as black tea, white tea, and green tea. With fresh tea leaves priced between 25,000 and 35,000 VND/kg, it helps local people feel secure in staying on their land and in the forest.

Đánh thức Phình Hồ - Ảnh 2. — Upland taro is considered the "brown gold" of the Phinh Ho highlands.

Besides tea, the people of Phình Hồ are also proud of their upland taro crop, a seemingly simple agricultural product that has now become the "brown gold" of the highlands. Busy tending to his taro field nearing harvest, Mr. Giàng Páo Lồng (Mù Thấp village) excitedly said: "Before, we only grew taro for food, but now we grow it to get rich. My family grows 1 hectare of taro and earns hundreds of millions of dong each year."

Currently, Phình Hồ commune has 332 hectares of taro, with an average yield of 10-12 tons/ha, totaling over 3,300 tons per year. With selling prices ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 VND/kg, upland taro generates over 50 billion VND in revenue annually, becoming a key crop that helps hundreds of households stabilize their livelihoods and escape poverty.

Besides being famous for its agricultural products, Phinh Ho is also known for its forest cover rate of 60.7%, encompassing majestic waterfalls and rolling hills.

Hang De Cho Waterfall - one of the "four great waterfalls of Northwest Vietnam" - cascades down amidst the green forest, while Chong Ka Y peak is a famous cloud-watching spot, where visitors can admire the sunrise rising from a vast sea of clouds.

Taking advantage of its natural resources, Phinh Ho is gradually developing ecotourism and community-based tourism. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phinh Ho commune, tourism is opening up a new direction for the locality.

"Developing tourism is not only about increasing income but also about preserving the cultural identity of the Hmong people. We always prioritize preserving the language, costumes, and traditional festivals so that tourists can experience the authentic cultural environment," Mr. Hung said.

Đánh thức Phình Hồ - Ảnh 3. — Phinh Ho is gradually developing ecotourism and community-based tourism.

Thanks to the province's investment and attention, the transportation infrastructure in Phinh Ho has improved significantly. Concrete roads have reached even the most remote villages; the national power grid and telecommunications network are widespread; and schools and health stations have been newly built or upgraded.

During the period 2020-2025, the total investment capital for the new rural development program is estimated at over 498 million VND. The rate of people using hygienic water is 100%, and the rate of rural households with hygienic toilets is 65%.

"In the coming time, Phinh Ho commune will continue to develop specialty agriculture in an organic direction, build brands for Shan Tuyet tea and upland taro, striving to achieve an average income of 58 million VND/person/year by 2030. At the same time, the locality will promote tourism development, aiming to attract 50,600 visitors and generate revenue of 30.3 billion VND/year...", Mr. Hung said.

Amidst the vast forests, Phình Hồ is transforming day by day. Lush green tea hills, fields of ripening sweet potatoes, and homestays nestled in the evening mist—all are blending into the new rhythm of life in a land rich in potential, strongly striving for sustainable development.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/danh-thuc-phinh-ho-185251125194647849.htm