Manh Danh faces difficulties in developing community tourism.

Việt Nam•16/11/2024

The clear blue waters of Ang Cang Lake create a captivating beauty that draws tourists in.

Leveraging the strengths of the lake

The Lunar New Year of 2021 marked a significant turning point and was also a source of joy for the people of Muong Ang district in general, and the people of Manh Danh village, Ang Cang commune in particular, as the Ang Cang reservoir project continued its construction .

The Ang Cang reservoir project was delayed for many years due to difficulties in land clearance ; everything was resolved when 70 households handed over 92 hectares of land to the construction unit to continue the project. The project was completed, handed over, and put into use, bringing practical benefits to the people . Over 400 hectares of rice fields now have a reliable water supply, more than 10,000 households have access to clean water , and irrigation is ensured for over 1,000 hectares of coffee plantations. Since its commissioning, the Ang Cang reservoir has created a large reservoir area with over 30 hectares of water surface, helping the people of Manh Danh village develop aquaculture .

Mr. Lu Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ang Cang commune, said: "Initially, the people did not understand the benefits of the Ang Cang water reservoir project and therefore did not agree to hand over the land. However, with the involvement and high determination of the Party committee and the government from the district to the grassroots level, the obstacles in people's thinking were overcome. Since the completion of the Ang Cang water reservoir , the lives of the people here have changed significantly. 100% of households in the village have access to clean water and electricity; 100% of households have televisions and motorbikes. In particular , 100% of resettled households have spacious houses and stable lives."

Besides its favorable conditions for economic development through cage fish farming , Muong Ang district has identified Manh Danh as having the potential for developing resort tourism and community-based cultural tourism. This assessment is based on the potential of its large water surface area, surrounded by majestic hills and mountains, its diverse ecosystem, and the unique and distinctive traditional culture of the local people that is still preserved . Muong Ang sees these as exciting tourism products for visitors who enjoy exploration and unique experiences.

The beauty of Ang Cang Lake as seen from above.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Truong, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Muong Ang District, shared: Based on existing potential, at the end of 2023, the district coordinated with the Asian Tourism Development Institute to conduct a field survey in Manh Danh. Through the survey, the Asian Tourism Development Institute confirmed that Manh Danh village has many potentials and advantages for tourism development , suitable for the sustainable tourism development orientation associated with the socio-economic development of Muong Ang district.

Following the agreement, Muong Ang district requested the Asian Institute for Tourism Development to provide consulting and assistance in building the Manh Danh cultural tourism village . To date, the institute has developed a perspective and architectural simulation illustrating the overall layout of the community tourism development zones in Manh Danh .

We need to work together and change our mindset.

Based on its existing potential and the analysis and assessment of experts, Manh Danh village has all the elements to develop community tourism. However, from many perspectives, the process of building Manh Danh into a cultural tourism village still faces many difficulties, especially in terms of investment capital.

With its beautiful lake area, many tourists come to visit, experience the scenery, and capture photos as souvenirs.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Truong, currently, the village has no tourism investment projects; investors are only at the research and planning stage. Tourism projects, types of tourism services, entertainment areas, and shopping facilities have not yet been developed; the people have not yet created unique, attractive, and iconic tourism products. Furthermore, the lack of upgraded roads from the district center to Manh Danh village is a major obstacle to developing community-based tourism.

Changing the mindset of the people of Manh Danh regarding tourism development is also a barrier. The people are accustomed to traditional production methods, and some even rely on government support policies, lacking the will to strive and develop themselves. Environmental sanitation in some areas of the village is not yet adequate; the practice of keeping livestock under houses still significantly hinders the development of the village into a community tourism destination.

The Mường Ảng district is coordinating with relevant agencies to expedite the development of transportation infrastructure to Mánh Đanh village.

To remove the "bottleneck" in building the Manh Danh community tourism village , the Party Committee and government of Muong Ang district and Ang Cang commune continue to propagate and change the awareness of officials, Party members, and the people in building community tourism villages; mobilize officials, Party members, and youth union members to regularly stay at the grassroots level, guide the people in environmental sanitation, creating a green, clean , and beautiful landscape; and encourage the people to preserve and promote traditional cultural values... Regarding tourism skills, such as communication, behavior, food, accommodation, etc., the district will provide training or take people to visit and learn from successful models, and at the same time assign specialized officials to help in a hands-on manner.

Despite its many potentials and advantages, transforming Manh Danh into a community-based tourism village requires the involvement of the entire political system. Currently, the district is focusing on completing the planning for the Ang Cang reservoir ecological tourism area ; finalizing the project to build a community-based cultural tourism village in Manh Danh; coordinating and directing the acceleration of the development of inter-district and inter-commune road systems, especially the road from National Highway 279 to Manh Danh village ; and the road from Manh Danh village to Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien Phu city. At the same time, the district is calling for and attracting investment to develop restaurant, guesthouse, and lake tourism services . Through these efforts, the people will protect the ecological environment and preserve and promote the unique local culture, contributing to poverty reduction and improving the lives of people in the lake area.