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| After more than 20 years of investment and attention, the Phoenix Cave - Mo Ga Stream scenic complex (Vo Nhai commune) has become an attractive ecotourism destination for many visitors. Photo: Provided. |
An inevitable trend
In recent years, ecotourism has become a strong development trend in many provinces and cities across the country, including Thai Nguyen . This type of tourism attracts the attention of tourists and encourages businesses and communities to participate in investment.
Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Developing green tourism is an urgent requirement and also an important strategic direction, a path towards sustainable development of the Vietnamese tourism industry in general and Thai Nguyen in particular, in line with the current trend of adapting to climate change.
Over the years, awareness of green tourism development in Thai Nguyen has undergone many positive changes. This is considered the right direction for the local government and investors in exploiting mountain and forest tourism resources and ecotourism associated with sustainable development.
Thai Nguyen is considered a province with great potential for developing green tourism, with landmarks associated with historical achievements such as: the ATK Dinh Hoa Special National Historical Site; the Memorial Area for 60 young volunteer martyrs of Company 915, Team 91 Bac Thai; the 27-7 National Historical Site… destinations that converge historical values, landscapes and characteristic culture of the Viet Bac region.
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| Tourists visit the buckwheat flower fields in Lan Quan hamlet (Quang Son commune). |
Besides its system of historical revolutionary relics, Thai Nguyen also possesses many unique natural landscapes, valuable "green resources" for developing ecotourism and resort tourism. Notable examples include Nui Coc Lake - the province's tourism symbol, a place where picturesque scenery converges, associated with the legend of Princess Cong and Prince Coc; the Seven-Tier Waterfall in Than Sa; and the Phoenix Cave - Mo Ga Stream (Vo Nhai)... All of these create a diverse ecological landscape, both pristine and attractive to tourists.
Along with natural attractions, many private and community-based tourism models have been effectively developed, contributing to enriching the province's tourism products. Examples include the Dung Tan Trade and Tourism Center, which combines green spaces, miniature landscapes, and modern entertainment areas with experiential activities; or community-based tourism destinations in the eastern slopes of Tam Dao and Tan Cuong communes, where visitors can explore tea plantations and experience local culture.
In addition, the system of restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets is developing in a way that harmonizes with local identity, gradually forming a chain of quality services, aiming to make tourism a key economic sector.
One exemplary model is the Thai Hai Ethnic Ecological Stilt House Village Conservation Area (My Hao hamlet, Tan Cuong commune), a destination loved by many domestic and international tourists. Established in 2002 with an area of over 70 hectares, it currently features nearly 30 ancient stilt houses of the Tay people, restored according to the traditional "through-toe - four-pillar" architecture, nestled amidst lush greenery, creating a peaceful space rich in cultural heritage.
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| The Thai Hai Ethnic Village Ecological Reserve (in My Hao hamlet, Tan Cuong commune) actively participates in promoting and introducing the image of Thai Nguyen tourism to domestic and foreign tourists. |
Here, the tangible and intangible heritage values of the Tay ethnic group are preserved and vividly recreated. Visitors can tour stilt houses, experience customs, costumes, musical instruments, and enjoy traditional cuisine such as bamboo rice, fermented meat, and herbal wine.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thi, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "Coming to Thai Hai, I felt like I was reliving old memories of the midland region. Seeing the rice mills, the water-powered rice pounding, and the Tay girls busy in their traditional costumes, I was truly impressed and felt relaxed."
Besides Thai Hai, Thai Nguyen also has many attractive eco-tourism destinations such as Phuong Hoang Tourist Area (Vo Nhai), Kem (La Bang), or specialty tea growing areas like Tan Cuong, Khe Coc, and Trai Cai. However, overall, the province's potential has not yet been exploited to its full potential.
Tourism products remain monotonous, lacking large-scale highlights, and have not yet formed a regional green tourism value chain. This presents both a challenge and an impetus for Thai Nguyen to continue orienting its development towards sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism rich in cultural identity in the future.
Focus on targeted investment.
In reality, green tourism is a type of tourism based on nature and culture, linked to environmental education, contributing to conservation and sustainable development, and attracting active community participation.
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| Tourists experience rowing boats on Ghenh Che Lake (Tan Cuong commune). |
To develop this type of tourism in a coordinated manner, Thai Nguyen needs to focus on disseminating information and raising awareness among people, businesses, and tourists about the meaning and benefits of green tourism for the environment and social life. In its journey towards sustainable development, the province focuses on exploiting its natural and cultural strengths, with a focus on developing ecotourism, community tourism, and experiences associated with nature.
First and foremost, it is necessary to harness the potential of the Than Sa - Phuong Hoang Nature Reserve, which boasts a rich primary forest ecosystem, along with majestic natural caves and waterfalls. Simultaneously, it is crucial to develop ecotourism routes along the Tam Dao mountain range, exploiting the natural landscape and fresh air at locations such as Kem Stream and Vai Mieu Lake, creating distinctive tourism products for the Northern Midlands and mountainous region.
Another promising approach is agricultural tourism – focusing on traditional craft villages, especially in the tea-growing regions of Tan Cuong, La Bang, and Dong Hy. This allows for hands-on experiences such as tea picking, processing, and tasting. This not only attracts tourists but also promotes the brand of "Thai Nguyen's finest tea," linking tourism development with enhancing the value of local agricultural products.
In addition, it is necessary to continue investing in the development of community-based tourism models in ethnic minority villages, with Thai Hai Community Tourism Village being a key highlight, preserving traditional cultural identity while creating jobs and stable income for the people. The formation of similar models in Vo Nhai, Dinh Hoa, Dai Tu, etc., will create a network of interconnected destinations, expanding the green tourism space throughout the province.
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| Many beautiful tea-growing regions of Thai Nguyen have become attractive destinations, suitable for developing ecotourism and green agricultural experiences. Photo: Provided |
Mr. Vu Van Hoai, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, suggested that Thai Nguyen should combine green tourism development with cultural and spiritual tourism, as the province currently has the Truc Lam Tay Truc Zen Monastery (Quan Chu commune) and many historical and cultural relics located at the foot of the Tam Dao mountain range, which could become a point of intersection between natural landscapes and cultural and spiritual spaces.
Towards green tourism, Thai Nguyen's key tasks in the coming period are preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups, while investing in infrastructure and upgrading facilities to serve tourism. Policies are needed to encourage "green" development in tourism services, such as the application of solar energy, the use of natural materials, recycling, waste and wastewater treatment, and programs for preserving and transmitting folk culture.
Furthermore, the province needs to link the construction of new rural areas with the development of green tourism, considering this a two-way solution. In this approach, new rural areas create the foundation for infrastructure and landscapes; green tourism contributes to improving the income and spiritual well-being of the people. Local authorities, businesses, and the community need to increase investment, promotion, and marketing of green tourism, while simultaneously improving service quality, training human resources, and fostering a professional and friendly service style.
Only when solutions are implemented synchronously and strategically can Thai Nguyen transform its potential into advantages, turn those advantages into brands, and make green tourism a distinctive, sustainable development direction that reflects the unique identity of this "Capital of the Thousand Winds" region.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/du-lich-thai-nguyen/202510/khai-thac-tiem-nang-du-lich-xanh-84c1a70/
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