Potential for ecotourism development

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

According to the assessment, Muong Ang district has diverse natural resources from landscape, terrain to soil, creating many potential destinations for tourism development. For example, Dao Vien Son located in Bua village, Ang To commune, is a carefully invested and attractive tourist destination. This is a private tourist destination, invested and developed by Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi's family on an area of 7 hectares. In the Dao Vien Son area, there are many check-in scenes: wild peach garden, ancient rose growing area and some miniature heart-lock landscapes, Mong flute, and stairs to heaven. In addition, Dao Vien Son also serves culinary dishes raised, grown, and processed on site such as wild boar, porcupine, coffee, and especially spirulina grown in a closed model - the main product for snacks and drinks. In addition to Dao Vien Son tourist area, located in Phay Vang beach, Xuan Lao commune, about 20 hectares wide, is the tea farm of Mr. Phan Nhat's family, which is growing and caring for 13 hectares of tea. Phan Nhat tea is grown and fertilized using organic methods, producing delicious, clean, and standard tea products. Not only that, Phan Nhat organic tea hill is still a potential destination that can exploit the type of agricultural ecotourism. It is known that in the near future, the owner of the facility will expand the tea growing area and build a homestay to serve tourists staying overnight and provide services to experience the stages of tea production...

Although located quite far from the center of Dien Bien Phu City, Tua Chua Stone Plateau is a place with many attractive eco -tourism potentials. A typical example is Sin Chai commune - a place with an altitude of more than 1,400m above sea level, with cool weather all year round. The special climate conditions with four seasons in one day and suitable soil of the plateau have produced famous Shan Tuyet tea trees in and outside the province. Notably, in early 2022, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment recognized a population 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; of which, 7,933 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, many of which are several hundred years old, are mainly concentrated in Sin Chai and Ta Sin Thang communes. The ancient tea varieties here mainly grow naturally, grow completely organically, and adapt to the soil and climate conditions here. Currently, there are no tourism activities taking place in this tea growing area, but if invested properly, it promises to be an ideal destination for those who love to immerse themselves in nature...

Also in Tua Chua, Huoi Long village is located 15km from the center of Huoi So commune, about 60km from the district center. This is one of the farthest and most difficult villages of Tua Chua district, with a concentration of mostly Dao ethnic people with a total of more than 200 households of 2 resettled villages located along the river. When Son La hydroelectric reservoir accumulates water, the Da River in Huoi So commune is no longer a dangerous rapid, becoming a calm lake. The advantage of waterways is promoted, making it convenient for people to trade and exchange goods to Son La, Lai Chau provinces and vice versa. Traders from all over go upstream of the Da River, anchor at Huoi Long wharf to sell goods, forming and developing the market. Therefore, this place can completely become an attractive eco-tourism destination with products such as visiting the lake, experiencing food, accommodation, festivals, fishing, etc.

In addition to the locations mentioned above, there are many other promising tourist destinations in the future, such as: Noong U Lake Eco-tourism Area, Noong U Commune, Dien Bien Dong District; medicinal herb growing area in Tenh Phong Commune, Tuan Giao District; lake tourism in Muong Lay Town... In March 2023, the Provincial People's Committee approved the Project on Tourism Development in Dien Bien Province to 2025, with a vision to 2030; in which, it proposed to develop the province's key tourism products according to 3 main pillars: Historical and spiritual tourism products; Cultural and ecological tourism products; Resort, entertainment and health care tourism products. Specifically, the project clearly identifies the need to attract investment in developing eco-tourism products - exploration based on exploiting the strengths of the ecosystems of forests, rivers, lakes, and scenic spots in the area; Enjoy the unique culinary culture of the nation, OCOP products...

Based on the available potentials and advantages, the province is focusing on directing specialized agencies to strengthen the work of advising on the development of agricultural tourism, ecotourism, resorts and entertainment in special-use forests and protective forests in the province. Up to now, specialized agencies have developed a Project on ecotourism, resorts and entertainment in special-use forests in Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien Phu city. The Provincial People's Committee has also approved the Project on ecotourism, resorts and entertainment in Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, period 2022 - 2030. In addition, specialized agencies coordinate with departments, branches and localities to advise on the development of a draft Plan to implement the Rural Tourism Development Program in the construction of new rural areas in Dien Bien province for the period 2021 - 2025 and submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for promulgation; At the same time, it is completing and advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue specific and detailed plans for the implementation of topics related to ecotourism, rural areas, and agriculture in the National Target Program on New Rural Development in Dien Bien province for the period 2021-2025...

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