Suoi Thau: "Miniature Switzerland"

When visiting Tuyen Quang, tourists not only discover the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark with its majestic mountains and the Na Hang - Lam Binh scenic area, often referred to as the "Ha Long Bay on land," but are also impressed by the vast primeval forests in the upper reaches of the Gam and Lo rivers. In this land rich in sediment, the Suoi Thau grassland (Pa Vay Su commune) emerges as a "miniature Switzerland," quiet yet captivating, gradually becoming a new highlight on the highland tourism map.

Grasslands in the mountains

Located in the northwest of the province, the Suoi Thau grassland stretches nearly 100 hectares atop Gia Long mountain, at an altitude of over 1,200 meters above sea level. The road from the center of Pa Vay Su commune to this place is only about 7 km, but it's long enough for us to clearly feel the changing landscape with each hairpin bend. Surrounded by towering mountains, Suoi Thau quietly captivates with its pristine beauty, featuring green meadows, cornfields, and rice paddies interspersed with traditional houses hidden in the early morning mist.

According to Mr. Sung Van Sinh, head of Suoi Thau village, the village currently has nearly 60 households, all of whom are Mong ethnic people. In folk belief, Suoi Thau is a vast area on the mountaintop, because from here one can gaze out over a wide landscape, seeing the villages of Then Phang, Chi Ca, Coc Re, and Ta Nhiu communes (formerly Xin Man district) nestled among the mountains.

The Suoi Thau grassland is like a miniature Switzerland of the highlands.

According to the elders' recollections, in the past, many castor oil plants grew here, and at the foot of the mountain, the Chay River, viewed from above, looked like just a small stream winding across the mountainside. From these natural traces, the ancients called this land Suoi Thau, simply meaning the land at the source of the stream.

On the Suoi Thau grassland, the Mong people's agricultural life is closely tied to their fields. Rice paddies, cornfields, and interspersed medicinal plants stretch to the horizon. When the harvest season ends, the land rests, and grasses, plants, and wildflowers sprout again, covering the grassland with soft, natural colors.

The pristine, majestic scenery of Suoi Thau not only attracts tourists but also becomes a source of inspiration for many photographers passionate about the highlands. Among them, photographer Ngo Chi Thanh (Yen Lap commune, Phu Tho province) has repeatedly traveled long distances to return to this grassland to hunt for creative moments in his works.

He shared that with each passing season, Suoi Thau takes on a new appearance, enough to entice photographers to return. In spring, amidst the gentle drizzle, the entire grassland brightens with the golden hues of rapeseed flowers stretching along the mountain slopes. In summer, Suoi Thau is pleasantly cool in the green of rice paddies and cornfields, with the white clouds in the sky becoming an ideal destination. In winter, fog blankets the area, creating a tranquil, mystical, and enchanting atmosphere. It is this slow, distinct transition of seasons that creates its unique charm, allowing me to capture beautiful images and listen to the rhythm of nature.

Tourism development potential

In recent years, the Suoi Thau grassland has gradually become a prominent feature on the province's tourism map, becoming a new and attractive destination for nature lovers in the highlands. Pa Vay Su commune is exploiting the potential of this area in a sustainable manner, harmonizing infrastructure development with landscape preservation.

The road leading to the grassland has been paved with concrete and widened to nearly 7 meters, facilitating travel. Locals have proactively converted a portion of their land after harvest to cultivate flowers and fruit trees such as peaches, pears, and plums; especially buckwheat flowers. Every late autumn and early winter, carpets of pink and white flowers bloom on the mountain slopes, creating a vibrant natural landscape.

Folk art performances are a highlight that attracts tourists to Suoi Thau.

The development of tourism in Suoi Thau not only contributes to promoting the beauty of the highlands but also creates jobs and increases income for local people. The people in the highlands have proactively changed their mindset regarding tourism, exploiting the scenic advantages by planting buckwheat fields in the shape of hearts, the map of the country, etc., creating visual highlights and attracting tourists to experience them.

Mr. Seo Sung, from La Chi Chai village, shared: “Previously, my family grew corn for livestock feed. Recognizing the potential for tourism development, I converted the corn fields to growing buckwheat flowers and other suitable flowers to attract tourists. At the same time, I invested in traditional costumes for rent for souvenir photos. Thanks to tourism, my family's economy is now much better than before.”

We need a separate path.

Following the merger, Pà Vầy Sủ commune was formed by consolidating administrative units including Cốc Pài town, Nàn Ma commune, and Bản Ngò village, creating an area with a wide open space and many outstanding advantages in tourism resources. It boasts a diverse system of natural landscapes, including towering mountains, grasslands, rivers and streams, along with historical sites, scenic spots, and unique cultural heritage. Alongside this is the rich cultural identity of the Mong, Nung, and Dao ethnic groups, preserved through their traditional houses, customs, festivals, and community life.

The harmonious blend of pristine nature and rich local culture has created a solid foundation for the locality to develop various forms of ecotourism, resort tourism, community tourism, and experiential tourism, with Suoi Thau grassland identified as the core of its tourism development orientation.

Alongside exploiting the landscape, Pà Vầy Sủ commune is orienting its tourism development towards local agriculture, incorporating OCOP products and strong specialties such as Già Dui rice, Shan Tuyet tea, honey, cardamom, smoked buffalo meat, buckwheat triangular cakes, etc., into the tourist experience.

However, the tourism development process still faces many obstacles, the biggest being the lack of synchronized transportation infrastructure, which leads to high travel costs and reduces the attractiveness of the destination. According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Duong Viet Hung commune, the Suoi Thau grassland has been approved by the province in the Zoning Plan, and the locality hopes to continue receiving attention and investment in infrastructure, both to serve production and to create leverage for tourism development.

Baotuyenquang.com.vn

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/suoi-thau-thuy-si-thu-nho--a471746.html