The allure of Ta Xua

From July 1st, 2025, implementing a two-tiered local government model, Ta Xua commune was established by merging Ta Xua, Hang Dong, and Lang Cheu communes, expanding its development space. During the year, the commune received over 20 billion VND in investment to pave 87.3 km of various types of roads; 47.3 km of canals and irrigation systems... To date, 92% of villages have concrete roads leading to the center; 99% of households have access to safe electricity; 100% of households use clean water; the education system has been strengthened with 124 solid classrooms; and 9,870 hectares of forest are strictly protected, ensuring a sustainable ecological space linked to tourism development.

Known for its vast areas of centuries-old Shan Tuyet tea trees, every spring, when mist still blankets the mountain slopes, the tea buds sprout a layer of fine white down. The Mong people here call this "the breath of the mountains," because only truly high mountain regions with sufficiently cold climates and clean soil, like Ta Xua, can produce such tea. Leveraging this advantage, the commune focuses on developing 472 hectares of tea plantations. The people have changed their mindset, applying clean farming techniques, modern processing methods, and building a systematic brand, with four tea products achieving OCOP (One Commune One Product) certification. Simultaneously, they aim to develop tea garden tourism models.

Mr. Mua A Lenh, Director of the Pla Agricultural and Ethnic Culture Preservation Cooperative in Ta Xua commune, shared: "The villagers no longer make tea in the old way. From 17 households, we have linked together to form a cooperative, planting and caring for 18 hectares of organic tea, standardizing everything from harvesting to processing. Tourists coming to Ta Xua really enjoy the experience of picking tea and drinking tea right in the ancient tea gardens, which helps increase value and income."

This trip to Ta Xua also allowed us to experience and immerse ourselves in new cultural spaces, such as the pedestrian street and the "Horse Hooves on the Clouds" festival, which has become an annual cultural event. In Chong Tra village, the villagers have transformed simple wooden houses into charming homestays, rich in ethnic cultural identity. Tourists can admire the sea of clouds, experience weaving and embroidering traditional clothing with Mong ethnic women, listen to the melodious sound of the Hmong flute, join in the traditional dance, and enjoy a cup of fragrant rice and corn wine. Thao A Lo, owner of Y Xoa homestay, shared: "Tourism helps me sell agricultural products, preserve the old houses, and maintain the culture. Before, many young people left the village to work far away; now they return to open shops, run homestays, and promote the village online."

Ta Xua commune currently has 148 households engaged in commercial and service businesses, including 88 households operating community guesthouses capable of accommodating approximately 1,500 guests per day and night; and 60 households providing other types of services, creating an important foundation for tourism development. In 2025, the commune welcomed 130,000 visitors, including 3,180 international tourists, with total tourism revenue estimated at 75 billion VND, reaching 185.7% of the plan.

Young Hmong women in Ta Xua commune are sewing new dresses and skirts.

With unwavering belief and aspiration for progress, the First Party Congress of Ta Xua Commune, for the 2025-2030 term, set the goal of transforming the commune into a provincial-level tourist area by 2030; and a national-level ward and tourist area by 2045. This goal focuses on three key breakthroughs: Continuing to improve the quality of human resources, with a focus on building a team of cadres and civil servants; developing a workforce of public employees to meet the demands of the digital age; mobilizing resources to invest in completing socio-economic infrastructure, especially transportation, tourism, rural development, education, and healthcare; attracting investment; and improving the efficiency of planning management, forest protection, land management, and construction order.

According to Nguyen Xuan Hong, Secretary of the Ta Xua Commune Party Committee: The commune will focus on developing sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and rural economy; effectively implement national target programs; develop diverse and high-quality trade and service sectors to meet the needs and production of the people. It will leverage its potential and strengths to develop sustainable tourism, focusing on ecotourism, experiential tourism, adventure tourism, and agro-tourism linked to the preservation and promotion of the unique cultural values of ethnic groups. It will strengthen the management of detailed planning and coordinate the implementation of investment projects in the tourism sector; develop zoning plans and detailed plans; and effectively implement the General Planning Project for the Ta Xua Tourist Area and surrounding areas...

As spring arrives, Ta Xua is beautiful with the color of peach blossoms and warm with the hospitality of its people. Ta Xua is steadily progressing on its path to becoming a shining tourist destination in Son La - a place that is both familiar and unique, and rich in the traditional cultural identity of the Northwest region.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/du-lich/suc-hut-ta-xua-lvetkk4vR.html