The peaceful scenery in the Thai ethnic minority villages of Mai Chau.
Unique Thai culture of Mai Chau
Stories and traditions passed down through generations have preserved the cultural values and customs of the Thai people of Mai Chau. With its natural beauty and hilly terrain, as well as abundant water resources from streams and rivers, Mai Chau was chosen by the Thai people as a place where "good land attracts good birds."
Besides spiritual beliefs, the unique cultural identity of the Thai people of Mai Chau is preserved and promoted within the community. Particularly noteworthy is the custom of living in stilt houses, with their architecture remaining almost intact. These stilt houses are built high above the ground and have a sturdy structure, often clustered together at the foot of mountains, along valleys and vast fields, creating a harmonious village community with a shared culture. Each house carries within it a story of history and traditional culture, passed down through generations.
Besides their main occupation of cultivating upland rice and fruit trees to ensure food security, raising livestock and poultry is also an important part of the family economy of the Thai people in Mai Chau. Especially in recent decades, many households in Mai Chau have shifted towards tourism and opened homestays to serve tourists. Homestays not only provide supplementary income but also help preserve and introduce the traditional culture of the Thai people to visitors.
An indispensable occupation in the lives of the Thai people of Mai Chau is brocade weaving. Their brocade weaving art has been passed down through many generations and is created by the skillful hands of women, carrying unique cultural and spiritual value.
The Thai people of Mai Chau are also known for their hospitality and openness. They uphold moral values and respect one another, creating a close-knit community. They warmly welcome tourists, diligently serve them, and strive to meet their needs in the best possible way, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Performing arts groups offer shows to cater to tourists' needs for experiencing traditional culture.
Memorable experiences
The Thai community lives in harmony with nature and has done an excellent job preserving the landscape values of the region. Therefore, tourists always love Mai Chau as a destination to experience the poetic and majestic beauty of the mountainous region and explore the local culture.
In this region, there are famous community-based tourism destinations such as: Lac Village (Mai Ha commune); Van Village, Pom Coong Village, Na Phon Village (Mai Chau commune); Buoc Village, Hich Village (Bao La commune). Along with the highlight of the landscape and unique customs and traditions, the Thai ethnic communities in these villages know how to maximize their potential and strengths to develop tourism activities such as: building cultural villages, restoring traditional festivals and folk art, developing traditional craft villages, and creating new tourism products and services... to meet the needs of visitors.
Mr. Ha Cong Minh, a tourism business owner in Hich village, Bao La commune, shared: "Families in the village have been operating stilt houses to accommodate tourists for nearly 10 years now. We always focus on investing in, repairing, and upgrading homestays and swimming pools, and establishing performing arts groups and Thai dance troupes to perform and interact with tourists. Thanks to these diverse experiential products, we have contributed to increasing the income of the villagers and promoting the beauty of the village."
Tourists can experience rafting and admire the pristine natural landscape on their journey to explore the Thai ethnic minority community in Mai Chau.
Throughout its formation and development, the community-based tourism model in the Thai villages of Mai Chau has always received the love and satisfaction of domestic and international tourists. Sarah from England shared: "The roads in the villages are spacious and airy; the community guesthouses are very clean and comfortable. I am extremely impressed by the scenery, the people, and the simple things happening here. I will also always remember the warm feelings of the locals over meals with sticky rice, grilled fish, and skewers of meat seasoned with mắc khén spice; enjoying and joining in the lively and heartfelt Thai Xoe dance."
In December 2024, the renowned American magazine Condé Nast Traveller announced that the former Hoa Binh area was among the top 71 most beautiful destinations in the world, representing Vietnam. Among them, Mai Chau community-based tourism was a top attraction thanks to its pristine natural landscapes and unique local culture. Visitors to Mai Chau's Thai community-based tourism area can not only immerse themselves in Thai culture but also admire the beauty of scenic spots such as Mo Luong Cave, Chieu Cave, Pieng Kem Cave, Lang Cave archaeological site, Khau Phuc Cave, etc.; explore the cultural night market in Lac village - Mai Ha commune, held every Saturday evening; participate in cultural experience tours of the Thai ethnic community, eco-tourism routes, or enjoy relaxing resort tourism.
Bui Minh
Source: https://baophutho.vn/hap-dan-du-lich-cong-dong-ban-thai-mai-chau-245073.htm
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