Bản Khá has great potential for tourism development.

Arriving at Kha village, Sapp Vat commune, Yen Chau district (Son La province), one finds a beautiful landscape, shaded by ancient mango and tamarind trees, with the Vat stream winding around. Kha village has a total natural area of ​​435 hectares, with 92 households and 425 inhabitants, 99% of whom are ethnic Thai people.

In Bản Khá village, approximately 90% of households still maintain traditional stilt houses. The villagers continue to preserve and promote unique cultural features, such as the Đông Sửa festival; folk singing and performances of traditional musical instruments; and the preservation of traditional crafts like weaving and embroidering scarves; and the craft of weaving everyday household items. Taking advantage of these strengths, Bản Khá village in Sặp Vạt commune has been selected by Yên Châu district to be developed into a tourist village.

Bản Khá village, Sặp Vạt commune, Yên Châu district, Sơn La province, viewed from above. Photo: Trần Sơn

To maximize its potential and strengths, Yen Chau district has implemented a project to develop a rural tourism model in Kha village. Recently, Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, chaired a conference to implement the project to develop a rural tourism model in Kha village.

The five-year tourism product development plan, with a total investment of approximately 43.2 billion VND, focuses on constructing key components such as: a welcome gate to the village; a reception area at the parking lot; environmentally friendly parking and electric vehicle shuttle services for tourists entering the village; sales points and experiential games; the development of experiential routes; and the beautification of the village landscape and the construction of restrooms.

The roadmap for developing tourism products in Kha village spans 5 years, with a total investment of approximately 43.2 billion VND. Photo: Tran Son

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Tran Van Hoang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Sapp Vat commune, Yen Chau district, Son La province, informed: To develop Kha village into a community tourism village, the authorities at all levels have allocated many resources to invest in building internal village roads, planting fruit trees and ornamental plants to create a beautiful landscape within the village. They have also promoted and encouraged the people to effectively implement the movement to build a green, clean, and beautiful rural environment; and created products to serve the shopping needs of tourists…

"We direct the implementation of environmental sanitation work, sending commune officials down to the grassroots level every month to help and coordinate with the people to clean the environment, build hygienic bathrooms and toilets; keep village roads and alleys green, clean and beautiful; and educate and encourage people to keep their buffaloes and cows under their houses. We also coordinate with the Village Management Board to maintain cultural, artistic, and sports activities, and organize classes for students to learn traditional local embroidery and weaving crafts," Mr. Hoang said.

Ms. Vi Thi Thiem, from Kha village, Sapp Vat commune, Yen Chau district, Son La province, shared: "To contribute to building a tourist village and creating a green, clean, and beautiful landscape, my family still maintains the traditional stilt house and does not cut down the ancient mango trees. In addition, we encourage and motivate young children to participate in training classes on traditional embroidery and weaving, and so far 30 mother-child pairs have participated. We also plant flowers along the fences bordering the roads leading into the village to create a beautiful landscape."

Bản Khá maintains cultural, artistic, and sports activities, and organizes embroidery training for students.
Traditional local weaving. Photo: Tran Son

Bản Khá is developing a tourism village that is linked to the cultural characteristics of the Thái ethnic group.

The Department of Culture and Information of Yen Chau District reported: To develop community-based tourism, the functional agencies of Yen Chau district are also developing and guiding the application of a set of criteria on the cultural environment at the Kha village community tourism site. They are organizing training courses to raise awareness about the cultural environment, establishing standards for lifestyle and behavior in communication, conduct, and other tourism business activities.

We took some exemplary households to visit tourism models in neighboring districts to help them apply the knowledge to their own locality. The district organized activities to promote and develop tourism in Kha village. The Department of Culture and Information and the People's Committee of Sapp Vat commune worked closely with the village to build and strengthen basic elements such as the village's regulations, guided the village in implementing cultural village development initiatives, and provided step-by-step support to help the villagers adopt effective practices. The district's investment and financial support, as well as social contributions from the commune and the village, were aimed at helping Kha village develop tourism sustainably and effectively.

The material and spiritual lives of the people in Kha village are improving day by day.
Photo: Tran Son

Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, requested that the implementation of the project be linked to the province's tourism development and land use planning; clearly define the roles of all levels in implementing the rural tourism model; and diversify tourism products based on the strengths of local ethnic culture to attract tourists.

In addition, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the provincial departments and agencies to continue researching and coordinating with Anh Son Group Joint Stock Company to supplement and refine the implementation idea. The People's Committee of Yen Chau district should proactively coordinate with the provincial departments and agencies to promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of the project.

Kha village has a total natural area of ​​435 hectares, with 92 households and 425 inhabitants, 99% of whom are ethnic Thai people.
Photo: Tran Son

With its advantageous geographical location, climate, soil conditions, and other factors suitable for community tourism, along with the support of various levels of government and the unity of the households in the village, Kha village will successfully build a community tourism model.

It can be affirmed that the policy of developing community-based tourism villages in conjunction with building new rural areas has created a breakthrough, transforming people's awareness, mobilizing many resources for socio-economic development in Yen Chau, and accelerating the progress of building new rural areas in the locality.

Van Ngoc