The scenery in Van Ho is peaceful and picturesque.

Nestled in a small valley surrounded by majestic pine forests, Hua Tat village in Van Ho commune boasts stunning natural scenery. The peaceful and idyllic atmosphere is enhanced by the rustic houses of the Mong ethnic group, hidden amidst the mist and clouds. These days, the family of Ms. Trang Thi Du, owner of Hua Tat H'Mong Retreat homestay, is busy preparing to welcome tourists during the April 30th - May 1st holiday. Two weeks prior, all rooms at the property were fully booked, primarily by groups from Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and international visitors.

Ms. Trang Thi Du said: "The facility currently has 10 rooms, including 6 detached villas, accommodating 30 guests per day. This year, with the extended holiday period and a sudden surge in visitors to Van Ho, we proactively reviewed and ensured all necessary facilities were in place and hired two additional staff members. At the same time, we improved the landscape, planted more flowers and ornamental plants, creating a space that is close to nature, aiming to provide tourists with the best possible experience during their stay."

Homestay Hua Tat H'Mong Retreat cleans the rooms to welcome guests.

Not far away, A Chu homestay also began welcoming its first groups of guests during the holiday season. Mr. Trang A Chu, the owner of the homestay, dressed in traditional Hmong ethnic attire, skillfully guided guests around the tourist attractions like a professional tour guide.

Mr. Trang A Chu shared: "Although it's a holiday, the establishment maintains the same service prices as on regular days. To enhance the experience and encourage tourists to stay longer, we have partnered with households in the village to develop unique tourism products, such as experiencing traditional crafts like beeswax painting, making Do paper, making Men Men (a type of steamed cornmeal), pounding sticky rice cakes, and traditional games... During this period, the homestay offers new services, such as camping and cloud hunting on the top of Suoi Bon mountain; visiting the Hua Tat pine forest; and experiencing picking late-season plums in the orchard… with local guides."

A Chu homestay decorates its space, creating a unique atmosphere for guests.

Located nearly 40km from the center of Van Ho commune, Phu Mau community tourism village nestled amidst pristine forests is an ideal destination for nature lovers. Here, visitors can explore the magnificent Tat Nang waterfall or soak in the Bo Am hot spring. Situated under a bamboo forest canopy, overlooking rice fields, the spring is a source of pure water flowing from the heart of the rocky mountain, cultivated by locals to create natural bathing pools, helping visitors relax and rejuvenate. Participate in community activities with the locals and enjoy mountain specialties such as buffalo meat, smoked pork, five-colored sticky rice, wild vegetable salad, and stream fish.

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Van, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "Visiting Phu Mau village during this year's holiday, I felt the beautiful and majestic natural scenery; the fresh air brought a sense of relaxation after stressful working days. Especially, the local cuisine, with its skillfully prepared traditional dishes combining characteristic ingredients of the Northwest mountains, created a unique and appealing flavor."

Accommodation establishments in Van Ho commune are inspecting their fire safety equipment.

Currently, Van Ho commune has 5 community tourism villages, 30 accommodation establishments including guesthouses, homestays, and resorts, along with many beautiful and attractive scenic spots. To ensure quality service for tourists during this year's holiday season, the People's Committee of the commune has directed specialized agencies to review all accommodation establishments in the area; requiring strict public price listing; and full compliance with regulations on fire safety, food safety and hygiene. At the same time, they aim to improve service quality and build an image of Van Ho tourism as civilized, friendly, and safe in the eyes of tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Ho Commune, said: This year's holiday season, the locality expects to welcome approximately 15,000-20,000 visitors. The commune is guiding tourism establishments to effectively exploit the potential of nature and culture to build unique and distinctive products; develop community-based, eco-tourism, and culinary experiences… Thereby, extending the length of stay of tourists, increasing spending, contributing to creating sustainable livelihoods for the people and promoting local socio-economic development.

International tourists experience painting with beeswax on fabric.

With its attractive destinations and rich, diverse cultural experiences, Van Ho region promises to be an ideal destination, offering tourists a complete, safe, and memorable vacation.

Hoang Giang