Meeting of the Steering Committee for the development of Moc Chau district into a town and the Moc Chau National Tourist Area.

Development orientation

Moc Chau National Tourist Area, covering 206,150 hectares, is located in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts. It serves as a gateway connecting Son La and other provinces in the Northwest region with Hanoi and the Red River Delta; and connects the Long Sap international border gate with Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. With its clean, cool climate, it is a renowned destination for resort tourism in Vietnam. Within the framework of Vietnam's tourism development strategy for the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, Moc Chau National Tourist Area is considered one of the important national tourist areas on the "Through the Northwest" travel route.

The heart-shaped tea hill is a tourist attraction on the Moc Chau plateau.

The Moc Chau and Van Ho regions are also home to 12 ethnic groups, who have lived there for generations, creating valuable and rich cultural traditions. Moc Chau was once known in the Thai language as "Muong Mok," meaning "land of mist." Its fresh air and beautiful, majestic natural landscapes have become a "specialty," a valuable natural resource for tourism development.

Leveraging its geographical advantages, climate, landscape, ecology, and cultural identity compared to other areas in the region, Son La has laid an important foundation for setting goals and tasks to build a national-level tourist destination.

Since 2008, Son La province has implemented a master plan for tourism development for the period 2007-2015, with a vision to 2020; simultaneously, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision to establish a tourism development plan for the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region until 2020. In this plan, Moc Chau was identified as one of the 10 national tourist areas and a driving force for tourism development in the entire region. In Decision No. 201/QD-TTg dated January 22, 2013, of the Prime Minister approving the "Master Plan for Tourism Development in Vietnam until 2020, with a vision to 2030," Moc Chau is included in the list of 49 national tourist areas.

Tourists experience the Bach Long Glass Bridge at Moc Chau Island Tourist Area.

To concretize the tourism development orientations aimed at transforming Moc Chau into a national tourist area playing a driving role in promoting tourism and socio-economic development in Son La and the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, on April 1, 2013, the Provincial Party Standing Committee issued Resolution No. 19-NQ/TU on the development of tourism in Son La province until 2020, with a vision to 2030. This resolution identifies tourism development as a key task linked to the province's socio-economic development, in line with Vietnam's tourism development strategy, and sets the goal of making Moc Chau one of the country's key national tourist areas; tourism development contributes to stabilizing and improving the lives of the people.

With the determination of Party committees and authorities at all levels, along with the support and assistance of central ministries and agencies, and the consensus of the people, the overall development plan for the Moc Chau National Tourist Area was quickly implemented. After more than a year of research and planning, on November 12, 2014, the "Overall Development Plan for the Moc Chau National Tourist Area to 2020, with a vision to 2030" was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 2050/QD-TTg. Subsequently, on January 25, 2019, the general construction plan for the Moc Chau National Tourist Area to 2030 was also approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 128/QD-TTg.

Accordingly, the Moc Chau National Tourist Area will form three key tourism centers: a resort center; an ecotourism center; and an entertainment center. The Moc Chau National Tourist Area is characterized by its ecological and cultural nature, offering diverse tourism options; it is a key economic zone for the southern part of Son La province; it is a center for agricultural, forestry, and handicraft production; it is a national ecological conservation area; and it holds significant importance for national defense and security.

A performance of Hmong folk art.

High effort and determination

In implementing the plans, Son La province has decisively directed and implemented comprehensive solutions, such as: developing zoning plans and detailed plans; promoting investment attraction; paying attention to and prioritizing resources for tourism development, especially investing in the development of technical infrastructure and tourism facilities; issuing policies to support tourism development; promoting administrative reform, supporting and creating favorable conditions for investors; promoting propaganda, advertising, and the application of information technology and digital transformation; focusing on improving the quality of human resources; building and improving the quality of tourism products and services; developing tourism in conjunction with agricultural development, preserving and promoting ethnic cultural values; and promoting inter-regional and international cooperation in tourism development. This includes implementing cooperation in tourism development among the group of 8 provinces in the expanded Northwest region and Ho Chi Minh City. Effectively implement collaborative activities to develop tourism with the provinces of Northern Laos.

The Resolution of the 15th Congress of the Son La Provincial Party Committee and Conclusion No. 94-KL/TU dated January 23, 2021, of the Son La Provincial Party Committee on the development of tourism in Son La province until 2025, with orientation to 2030, have demonstrated a high determination to achieve the goal of building and developing the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, which is: “To vigorously attract investment resources to the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, so that by 2025 it will be recognized as a National Tourist Area, becoming one of the leading tourist areas in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region.”

Pine forest tourist area in Bản Áng, Đông Sang commune, Mộc Châu district.

On September 23, 2022, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee established the Steering Committee for the construction of Moc Chau district into a town and the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, chaired by the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Determined to realize the goal, the Steering Committee has actively and proactively implemented its tasks; completing the zoning plan for the Moc Chau National Tourist Area. To date, it has achieved 100% coverage of the general planning area for the key tourist area and 36% coverage of the detailed planning area within the general planning area for the key tourist area, providing a basis for attracting investment and developing tourism in accordance with the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025.

The policies and development orientations for the Moc Chau National Tourist Area are being gradually concretized. In particular, tourism infrastructure has been invested in comprehensively, especially transportation; many tourism products have become brands and gained popularity, such as cultural tourism, community tourism, agricultural tourism, and sports tourism...

Many tourist areas and attractions have been invested in systematically, correctly, and effectively; notably Moc Chau Island Tourist Area, Ban Ang Pine Forest Tourist Area, Dai Yem Waterfall Tourist Area, Happy Land Moc Chau... Tangible and intangible cultural values ​​are preserved and promoted, such as: Thai Xoe dance, Tha Kenh dance of the Mong ethnic group, bell dance of the Dao ethnic group, Het Cha Festival, Ban Flower Festival, Peach Blossom Festival, Fruit Harvesting Festival... which are regularly organized, creating products that attract domestic and international tourists.

To date, Moc Chau National Tourist Area has 324 accommodation establishments, 395 food and beverage establishments, and 58 shopping establishments serving tourists. Notably, for two consecutive years (2022-2023), Moc Chau National Tourist Area was selected and honored with the "World's Leading Regional Natural Destination" award by the World Travel Awards. The number of tourists visiting Moc Chau is increasing; from the beginning of this year alone, Moc Chau National Tourist Area has received over 1.5 million visitors, with total revenue from tourism services exceeding 1,500 billion VND.

Worthy of being a National Tourist Area

With great effort and determination, the decisive involvement of the political system from the provincial to local levels, and the consensus of the people of Moc Chau and Van Ho, the Moc Chau National Tourist Area has completed all 20/20 criteria. On April 22, 2024, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed Decision No. 1077/QD-BVHTTDL recognizing Moc Chau as a National Tourist Area. This is the 8th national tourist area in the country to receive this recognition.

Mr. Le Trong Binh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Moc Chau District, shared: "The Party Committee, the government, and the people of Moc Chau District are very happy and proud to be recognized as a National Tourist Area. This is an important driving force for Moc Chau and Van Ho districts to continue striving to develop tourism further, affirming their position on the world tourism map, and living up to their status as a National Tourist Area."

Vietnam Trail Marathon 2024 in Moc Chau District

To build the Moc Chau National Tourist Area into a sustainable destination, the provincial authorities and the two districts of Moc Chau and Van Ho will continue to focus resources on investing in infrastructure, technical facilities, and tourism services; transportation infrastructure connecting tourist areas and attractions; and other infrastructure. They will improve and enhance the criteria for a national tourist area; promote digital transformation and the development of smart tourism applications; strengthen promotional activities; build the image of Son La tourism; and promote the brand of Son La as a "Leading Regional Natural Destination in the World."

Develop diverse, unique, and attractive tourism products; focus on preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural values ​​associated with tourism development. Build community-based tourism areas, sites, and villages linked to the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural identities and the preservation of characteristic agricultural ecosystems. Develop the Moc Chau National Tourist Area in a green, rapid, and sustainable manner, in line with Vietnam's tourism development strategy; develop tourism while protecting natural landscapes and the environment, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values; become one of the key national tourist areas in the country, creating a strong and sustainable brand for tourism in Son La and the Northwest region.

Text and photos: Viet Anh

The journey to becoming a National Tourist Area for Moc Chau (baosonla.org.vn)