Arousing the potential for tourism development in Thanh Quan commune

Chin Gian Temple, Thanh Quan commune attracts a large number of people and tourists to participate in the festival.

Thanh Quan commune has long been known as the “difficult land” of Thanh Hoa province. With more than 95% of the population being Thai, this land is considered the “cradle” that nurtures the traditional culture of the Thai ethnic group here. The Thai people in Thanh Quan commune have their own customs, habits, and language, and have a tradition of growing wet rice, raising livestock, and weaving brocade. These traditional cultural values are gradually becoming the tourism resources of the commune.

The highlight is the provincial historical and cultural relic of Chin Gian Temple - a spiritual work that contributes to creating a unique cultural space. If properly promoted, this will be a highlight that can become a tourism product associated with the local traditional cultural festival. Located on Pu Pom hill, Chin Gian Temple has an architecture imbued with the traditional cultural space of the Thai ethnic group here. The name "Chin Gian" originates from the architecture of the 9 main worshiping rooms, symbolizing the harmony between heaven - earth and humans. After many years of deterioration, Chin Gian Temple was renovated in April 2016 and completed in September 2017. The temple was built in the style of a stilt house, consisting of 9 worshiping rooms corresponding to 9 Muongs of the Thai ethnic group, Thanh Quan commune, including: Muong Ton, Muong Pan, Muong Chun, Muong Puoc, Muong Quang, Muong Ha Quen, Muong Mieng, Muong Chon, Muong Chong. In addition to worshiping the gods, the Nine-Room Temple also worships heroic martyrs, demonstrating the morality of "When drinking water, remember the source" with the homeland and the nation. In front of the temple yard, 9 stone buffaloes including 6 black buffaloes, 3 white buffaloes and 9 restored wells, demonstrating the close connection between people and nature, agricultural beliefs and the spirit of solidarity of the Thai community.

Every year in early spring, the "Buffalo Offering to Heaven" Festival at Chin Gian Temple is organized by the local government, attracting thousands of people and tourists from all over the country to offer incense and participate in the festival, to express their respect and gratitude to their ancestors and origins, and to pray for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and good crops.

The diversity and richness of ethnic cultural values will create attraction for tourism development. Therefore, to concretize the goal of economic development from tourism, Thanh Quan commune has strengthened propaganda work, raising awareness for people about developing community tourism associated with preserving the unique traditional culture of the Thai people.

After the local government promoted the tourism development policy, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc's family in Na Ca 2 village came up with the idea and built the Homestay "Moc Son Quan" - a space with rustic bamboo, close to nature, with the traditional style of the Thai people to be a stop to welcome guests, serving activities to experience indigenous culture. "Tourists come to Thanh Quan commune not only to visit Chin Gian temple, but also want to experience the life and activities of the indigenous people. If we know how to exploit it properly, people will have jobs and stable income right on their homeland" - Ms. Ngoc shared.

When coming to Thanh Quan commune, visitors also have the opportunity to explore Sao Va waterfall, admire the white waterfall like a soft silk strip across the mountain. Stay in a stilt house, participate in bamboo dancing, bamboo rafting, campfire, cultural and artistic exchange, enjoy local dishes and specialties.

Mr. Dam Van Thong, Vice Chairman of Thanh Quan Commune People's Committee, said: "To make tourism a new direction for local socio-economic development, Thanh Quan Commune has been focusing on effectively implementing the work of preserving and promoting ethnic cultural values such as Xang Khan Festival, Cat Sa Festival, restoring folk games and performances such as throwing con, jumping bamboo poles...; investing in roads to some pristine waterfalls to develop tourism. We are determined to develop spiritual cultural tourism and eco-tourism to create new livelihoods for the people".

To effectively exploit and promote tourism potential, Thanh Quan commune needs to pay attention to investing in infrastructure, propaganda, and guidance to improve tourism skills for the people. Only then can this type of tourism develop sustainably, promote the strengths of natural resources and indigenous culture, and contribute to improving the lives of local people.

Article and photos: Ha Hong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/khoi-day-tiem-nang-phat-trien-du-lich-o-xa-thanh-quan-260042.htm