The plum blossom-lined road in Chiềng An ward creates a highlight for experiential tourism.

Chieng An boasts a harmonious ecological space encompassing hills, caves, orchards, and residential areas; its landscape retains its natural, peaceful character. This provides a foundation for developing ecotourism, experiential tourism, and tourism linked to community cultural activities. Furthermore, the ward is home to ten ethnic groups, with a rich cultural heritage reflected in their customs, traditions, festivals, cuisine, traditional clothing, architecture, and community life. These elements create a unique identity and are crucial resources for developing community-based tourism connected to the lives of the local people.

Mr. Nghiem Van Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng An Ward, said: The Resolution of the First Party Congress of Chieng An Ward, term 2025-2030, identifies tourism development as one of the important orientations in the socio-economic development strategy of the locality. Accordingly, we have determined that tourism development should be based on existing values, suitable to the actual conditions and local resources, avoiding scattered and massive investments, ensuring the direct participation of the people and long-term sustainability.

The performing arts groups contribute to preserving and spreading the cultural identity of the ethnic groups in Chiềng An ward.

To concretize the resolution, the ward has developed a Project on Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Identity of Ethnic Groups in conjunction with Tourism Development, for the period 2025-2030, with the goal of preserving, protecting, and promoting the values ​​of traditional cultural and historical heritage; while simultaneously promoting the unique cultural beauty of ethnic groups, forming attractive tourist destinations, and gradually attracting domestic and international tours and tourists. The aim is that by 2030, 100% of villages and residential areas will maintain regularly operating community art troupes, serving as the core in preserving and teaching ancient Thai Xoe dances and traditional folk songs. Approximately 80% of students at all levels will have access to education on ethnic cultural identity through extracurricular activities, contributing to fostering love for their homeland and awareness of preserving traditional culture among the younger generation.

In addition, focus on forming and developing community-based tourism destinations associated with local culture and agricultural production; gradually building products such as: the Bản Hài mountain climbing route, coffee festivals, ethnic cultural experience spaces, linked to community-based tourism development, local culinary culture, and organizing seasonal cultural and tourism activities associated with plum blossoms, apricot blossoms, and characteristic agricultural products...

"Ethnic cuisine is one of the highlights that attracts tourists when they come to Chieng An ward."

To realize its goals, Chieng An focuses on planning, demarcating, preserving, and protecting potential tourist attractions; forming tourist routes and destinations associated with coffee plantations, seasonal plum blossoms, and the Hai village mountain climbing route. At the same time, it strengthens connections with businesses and travel agencies to develop experiential tours and routes, combining them with homestay development, introducing traditional cuisine, gradually extending the length of stay, and improving the effectiveness of tourism activities.

One of the most memorable activities was the first Chieng An Ward Coffee Festival, held at the end of 2025, featuring many unique experiential activities that attracted a large number of locals and tourists. Through the festival, visitors could directly experience coffee harvesting, learn about the cultivation process, and enjoy coffee and local cuisine on-site, creating a connection between agricultural production and tourism.

Sharing her experience at the Coffee Festival, Ms. Ma Sinh Pu, a tourist from Lai Chau province, said: "Attending the Chieng An Ward Coffee Festival, I was impressed by the unique ethnic cultural space, the friendliness and hospitality of the people, and the experiences associated with local coffee. Directly participating in production and daily life activities with the locals gave visitors a genuine feel for the life and culture of Chieng An."

After directly surveying the local tourism potential, Mr. Luong Duy Doanh, Director of 5-Star Hanoi Tourism, commented: Chieng An has many advantages to become a destination in the province's tourism routes. Tourists can not only visit and experience the culture and cuisine but also directly participate in caring for and harvesting coffee, observing the processing process, thereby better understanding the value of each product. With its lush green coffee plantations and distinctive cultural identity, Chieng An can be perfectly integrated into the Son La - Moc Chau tour.

Along with the interest from tourists and businesses, local people also have high expectations for the development of community-based tourism linked to agriculture and indigenous culture. Mr. Lu Tien Quan, owner of Tien Quan homestay in Bo village, said: Tourists coming to homestays are mainly interested in experiencing local life such as staying in stilt houses, living with the host family, enjoying traditional cuisine, participating in coffee picking, and mountain climbing. We hope to continue receiving attention and support from relevant sectors and localities in improving infrastructure, enhancing tourism skills, creating additional income, and preserving traditional lifestyles and cultural identity.

With clear direction and the synchronized implementation of projects and solutions, tourism in Chieng An is gradually developing in a sustainable direction. This contributes to promoting socio-economic development, creating new livelihoods for the people, and improving their material and spiritual lives.

Nguyen Yen