Ethnic minority areas change thanks to community tourism model

Tourists visit and learn about the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group at the community tourism site of Mo village, Binh Thanh commune (Cao Phong).

Located in the core area of Hoa Binh Lake, in the past, besides fishing and afforestation, the people of Ngoi village, Suoi Hoa commune (Tan Lac) had no other source of income. Only when businesses came in through policies to attract investment, support and accompany, did the local people start doing tourism, together unleashing the potential and strengths of the lake area.

Ngoi village is home to the Muong ethnic group with more than 100 households. In addition to the wild natural beauty, the people still preserve almost intact the ancient stilt houses and many traditional cultural features of the Muong ethnic group. Mr. Bui Van Hien, owner of Chuong Gio homestay in Ngoi village, shared: Thanks to the help of Hoa Binh Tourism Joint Stock Company, the people of Ngoi village have changed their thinking and awareness. Some households have boldly renovated their facilities, invested in homestays to welcome guests and provide diverse accommodation and experience services. When visiting the village, tourists can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Hoa Binh Lake, Ngoi Hoa Bay, learn about the culture of the Muong people, participate in activities such as boating, fishing, and catching seafood.

Compared to other community tourism sites in Mai Chau district and the province, Hang Kia and Pa Co community tourism is quite new but has an appeal to domestic and international tourists. The reason why Hang Kia and Pa Co attract visitors is because, in addition to the natural landscape, this place preserves unique indigenous culture through language, costumes, and daily customs and practices. Community tourism households actively improve service quality, build and renew experiential products such as: Mong ethnic cultural night market in Pa Co commune, weaving, dyeing brocade, picking tea... and dishes with bold flavors of the Northwest mountains and forests.

Up to now, the Hoa Binh community tourism has developed strongly in the direction of exploiting the culture of ethnic minorities, concentrated in the districts of Mai Chau, Da Bac, Tan Lac, Cao Phong. Of which, Mai Chau district has 8 community tourism sites, including 6 sites of the Thai ethnic group, 2 sites of the Mong ethnic group; Da Bac district has 4 sites of the Muong ethnic group, 1 site of the Dao ethnic group; Tan Lac district has 4 sites and Cao Phong district has 3 sites of the Muong ethnic group...

According to Mr. Bui Xuan Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoa Binh is home to many ethnic groups, with about 64% being Muong, the rest being Kinh, Thai, Dao, Tay, Mong. In recent years, the province has encouraged the development of community-based tourism. Along with the policies of the Party and the State, a number of non-governmental organizations have paid attention to supporting ethnic minorities in building community-based tourism models. The whole province currently has more than 20 community-based tourism sites, with nearly 200 homestays operating in accommodation and other tourism services, attracting about 1,000 poor workers and ethnic minorities to participate.

Not only contributing to the protection and promotion of cultural values, community tourism creates sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minority communities through providing products and services for tourists such as accommodation, food, indigenous cultural experiences, and local souvenirs. Many community tourism sites in the province have built their brands and reputations, and are loved by domestic and international tourists, such as Lac village - Chieng Chau commune (Mai Chau); Mo village - Binh Thanh commune (Cao Phong), Da Bia hamlet (now Duc Phong hamlet) - Tien Phong commune, Sung village - Cao Son commune (Da Bac) ... thanks to their unique tourism products, creating impressive experiences.

According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, based on the potential and strengths of natural landscapes and national cultural identity, the community tourism model is creating a sustainable direction, gradually changing the economic development mindset of the people. The province aims to develop community tourism associated with sustainable agriculture, well protecting the landscape, ecological environment and preserving values imbued with traditional cultural identity. Ethnic minority areas are not only invested in and supported in terms of infrastructure such as transport infrastructure, electricity, cultural institutions, etc., but are also regularly trained to improve their skills in community tourism.

Bui Minh

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/276/202427/Vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-doi-thay-nho-mo-hinh-du-lich-cong-dong.htm