The Dao people of Lan Chau engage in tourism.

- For the Dao people in Lan Chau village, Huu Lien commune, knowledge of traditional medicine is a "precious asset" passed down through many generations. In recent years, with the strong development of tourism in the area, the Dao people of Lan Chau have developed health care services using these valuable traditional remedies, creating diversity and uniqueness in Huu Lien tourism.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, from Lan Chau village, prepares herbal medicine to serve customers.

In a kitchen of about 20 square meters, by the crackling fire and the fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs filling the air, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huyen from Lan Chau village shared with us her journey of bringing medicinal herbs to tourists. Mrs. Huyen said: "These traditional herbal remedies have been passed down through four generations in my family. My family has also practiced traditional medicine for a long time, primarily serving the needs of the villagers. In 2022, when the commune government promoted and guided the development of health-related tourism services such as Dao ethnic group herbal baths and foot soaks, I boldly invested in facilities. The commune government also provided bathtubs, water tanks, and signage to develop the service." Currently, on average, my family serves 30-40 customers per month who experience our healthcare and therapy services, and we sell 50-60 prescriptions of traditional medicine, generating an income of nearly 20 million VND per month.

Similar to Ms. Huyen's family, Dong Lam homestay in Lang Ben village, Huu Lien commune, has also incorporated health care experiences using traditional Dao Lan Chau herbal remedies into its services for tourists to increase its appeal and create uniqueness. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, owner of Dong Lam homestay, said: "Besides experiential tourism activities such as kayaking during the flood season, horseback riding, and making pumpkin cakes, we also offer Dao herbal baths, foot soaks, and therapeutic massages. We partner with Dao households in Lan Chau village who are knowledgeable about herbal remedies and practice traditional medicine to provide these services. On average, the homestay welcomes 80-100 tourists each month, with about 40% experiencing health care services using herbal remedies. Feedback shows that most tourists are very satisfied and enjoy this activity. Therefore, in the future, we will continue to maintain and promote this service to tourists."

It is known that there are currently 26 homestays and households in the commune that offer health care services using medicinal herbs, with valuable traditional remedies preserved through generations of the Dao Lan Chau people. Some prominent services include: herbal baths, foot soaks, therapeutic massages, etc. Prices for these services are clearly listed by the establishments, ranging from 80,000 to 350,000 VND per service. On average, each establishment welcomes and serves 20-40 customers per month.

Mr. Hoang Thanh Hieu, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Huu Lien Commune, said: To develop tourism in a sustainable direction, the department has advised the Commune People's Committee to focus on orienting and exploiting the unique cultural identity of the locality to create highlights to attract tourists. Accordingly, the core attraction of Huu Lien currently lies in the rich cultural identity of ethnic minorities, skillfully exploited through community tourism models. A prominent example is the health and wellness tourism model associated with preserving valuable traditional medicines of the Dao people in Lan Chau village. To support the people in developing this model, from 2022 to the present, the commune government has provided 4 bathtubs, 1 water tank, and 4 signposts to service businesses; integrated propaganda and guidance on customer care skills for the people; and promoted and connected tourists to experience the services...

In particular, in 2024, implementing Project 6 in the National Target Program for socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the Huu Lien commune government coordinated with relevant units to implement the project to support investment in preserving the traditional culture of Lan Chau village. Accordingly, regarding the preservation of valuable traditional medicines of the Dao people of Lan Chau, the project implementing units integrated guidance on how to prepare medicine, customer care and service skills, and introduction of tourism products... into the Pao Dung singing class; supported the installation of signboards guiding the process of preliminary processing, processing, and preservation of traditional medicine and the foot soaking process for households providing services…

Thanks to the support of the government and the proactive efforts of the people, healthcare services using the valuable traditional remedies of the Dao people of Lan Chau are increasingly developing, attracting the attention of tourists. Ms. Vu Kim Hoa, from Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province, said: "Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Huu Lien and was extremely impressed with the natural scenery and the unique cultural features of the people here. In particular, I really enjoyed the experience of soaking my feet in the herbal water of the Dao people of Lan Chau because it brought a pleasant and relaxing feeling."

To achieve the goal of developing tourism while preserving and promoting the value of national cultural identity, the Huu Lien commune government will continue to encourage homestays and households to maintain and develop health care services; at the same time, it will mobilize people to exploit and conserve medicinal plant resources, limiting indiscriminate exploitation, thereby contributing to increasing people's income and developing tourism in Huu Lien in a sustainable direction.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/nguoi-dao-lan-chau-phat-trien-du-lich-tu-duoc-lieu-5066781.html