Potential for developing ecotourism

Việt Nam•30/09/2023

Tourists experience tea picking at Phan Nhat farm, Xuan Lao commune, Muong Ang district. *Photo: Contributor.*

According to assessments, Muong Ang district possesses diverse natural resources, from landscapes and topography to soil, creating many potential destinations for tourism development. For example, Dao Vien Son, located in Bua village, Ang To commune, is a meticulously developed and attractive tourist destination. This is a privately owned tourist spot, invested in and developed by Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi's family on an area of 7 hectares. Within Dao Vien Son's grounds, there are many scenic spots for photo opportunities: a wild peach orchard, an area for growing ancient roses, and several small scenic spots featuring heart-shaped locks, Hmong flutes, and a staircase to heaven. In addition, Dao Vien Son also offers local cuisine made from locally raised and processed animals such as wild boar, porcupine, coffee, and especially spirulina, grown in a closed-loop system – the main product for snacks and beverages. Besides the Dao Vien Son tourist area, located in Phay Vang beach, Xuan Lao commune, covering approximately 20 hectares, is the tea farm of Mr. Phan Nhat's family, currently cultivating and caring for 13 hectares of tea. Phan Nhat's tea is grown and cared for using organic methods, resulting in delicious, clean tea that meets standards. Furthermore, the Phan Nhat organic tea plantation remains a potential destination for developing agricultural ecotourism. It is known that the owner plans to expand the tea plantation area and build homestays in the near future to accommodate tourists overnight and offer experiences of the tea production process…

Located quite far from the center of Dien Bien Phu city, the Tua Chua rocky plateau boasts many attractive ecotourism potentials. A prime example is the Sin Chai commune area, situated at an altitude of over 1,400 meters above sea level, with cool weather year-round. This unique climate, with four seasons in one day, combined with the suitable soil of the plateau, has produced the famous Shan Tuyet tea, renowned both within and outside the province. Notably, in early 2022, the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment recognized a cluster of 100 Shan Tuyet tea trees in Sin Chai and Hau Chua villages, Sin Chai commune, Tua Chua district, as a Vietnamese heritage tree. It is known that Tua Chua district has nearly 600 hectares of tea plantations; among them, 7,933 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, many hundreds of years old, are concentrated mainly in Sin Chai and Ta Sin Thang communes. The ancient tea trees here mostly grow naturally, developing entirely organically and adapting to the local soil and climate conditions. Currently, no tourism activities are taking place in this tea-growing area, but with proper investment, it promises to be an ideal destination for those who enjoy immersing themselves in nature...

Also in Tủa Chùa, Huổi Lóng village is located 15km from the center of Huổi Só commune and about 60km from the district center. It is one of the most remote and difficult-to-access villages in Tủa Chùa district, home to a large Dao ethnic minority population, with over 200 households in two resettlement villages along the river. When the Sơn La hydroelectric reservoir began filling with water, the Đà River in the Huổi Só commune area was no longer a dangerous rapids, but a calm lake surface. This waterway advantage has been exploited, facilitating trade and the exchange of goods between the people and Sơn La and Lai Châu provinces. Traders from various places travel upstream on the Đà River, anchoring at Huổi Lóng wharf to sell their goods, thus forming and developing a local market. Therefore, this area has the potential to become an attractive ecotourism destination with products such as lake tours, culinary experiences, accommodation, festivals, and fishing activities.

Besides the locations mentioned above, there are many other promising tourist destinations in the future, such as: Noong U Lake eco-tourism area in Noong U commune, Dien Bien Dong district; the medicinal herb cultivation area in Tenh Phong commune, Tuan Giao district; lake tourism in Muong Lay town... In March 2023, the Provincial People's Committee approved the Dien Bien Province Tourism Development Project until 2025, with orientation to 2030; which proposes developing key tourism products of the province according to three main pillars: historical and spiritual tourism products; cultural and ecological tourism products; and resort, entertainment, and health care tourism products. Specifically, the project clearly identifies the need to attract investment to develop eco-tourism and exploration products based on exploiting the strengths of the forest, river, and lake ecosystems, and scenic spots in the area; Enjoy the unique culinary culture of the ethnic groups, OCOP products, etc.

Based on existing potential and advantages, the province is focusing on directing specialized agencies to strengthen advisory work on the development of agricultural tourism, ecotourism, resort tourism, and entertainment in special-use forests and protection forests within the province. To date, specialized agencies have developed a project on ecotourism, resort tourism, and entertainment in special-use forests in Muong Nha district and Dien Bien Phu city. The Provincial People's Committee has also approved the project on ecotourism, resort tourism, and entertainment in the Muong Nha Nature Reserve, giai đoạn 2022 - 2030. In addition, specialized agencies are coordinating with departments, sectors, and localities to advise on the drafting of the Plan for implementing the Rural Tourism Development Program in the construction of new rural areas in Dien Bien province giai đoạn 2021 - 2025 and submitting it to the Provincial People's Committee for promulgation; At the same time, we are finalizing and advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue specific and detailed plans for implementing thematic programs related to ecotourism, rural areas, and agriculture within the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas in Dien Bien province for the period 2021-2025...

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