Promoting advantages to develop tourism

These days, the road to Ta Xua commune, Bac Yen district (Son La) is crowded with cars carrying tourists to "hunt" clouds. For many years, Ta Xua has become an attractive destination for tourists. The highland route has become a place chosen by tourists. People in Ta Xua communes to Hang Dong, Lang Cheu, Xim Vang... have boldly invested in various types of services to develop tourism. Mr. Mua A Ho, Chairman of Ta Xua Commune People's Committee, said: "On weekends, many tourists come to hunt clouds and learn about the cultural life of the Mong people. This is an opportunity to develop local tourism and increase people's income, contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction".

The 'cloud paradise' Ta Xua is beautiful, poetic and majestic, this is an advantage for Bac Yen district (Son La) to develop tourism. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Ta Xua is not only endowed with stunning natural scenery, but each village also knows how to promote its own advantages, which are the Mong people. Up to now, the Mong people still preserve their indigenous culture. Every time tourists visit, especially foreign tourists, they like to learn and experience the life of the Mong people. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (Hanoi City), a regular visitor to Ta Xua, shared: "In the Mong villages, I am immersed in the very typical lifestyle of the Mong people. I get to drink Shan Tuyet tea, listen to the panpipes and dances of the Mong people... Especially, the Mong people are very hospitable".

Developing tourism associated with indigenous culture is an advantage of the highland communes of Bac Yen district. In each village, people have known how to preserve and promote their strengths to do tourism. The Mong people in Hang Dong commune have also known how to open their doors to welcome guests. Wooden houses imbued with their culture have been renovated and cleaned into accommodation. Each village has an art troupe. Traditional cultural features such as embroidery, brocade weaving, making do paper, etc. are also preserved by the people. That is an advantage for people to develop tourism.

Bac Yen develops tourism associated with experiential tourism and green tourism. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Mr. Mua Nhe Di, Hang Dong commune, Bac Yen district (Son La) is planning to build a homestay to welcome guests. According to Mr. Di, on weekends, tourists flock to Hang Dong in great numbers. All accommodation areas are fully booked. The demand for tourists to this highland area is increasing day by day. "Implementing the policy of developing tourism associated with culture and helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in the district, many households in the commune have boldly invested in building resorts to welcome guests. Each year, the number of households participating in tourism is increasing. In addition to increasing income from accommodation for guests, Mong people also have the opportunity to introduce their indigenous culture and sell many typical agricultural products of the highlands," said Mr. Di.

In recent years, the infrastructure and accommodation system in Ta Xua, Lang Cheu, Hang Dong or Xim Vang communes have gradually taken shape in a more professional manner. Families working in tourism themselves also know how to preserve and promote their ethnic customs and practices. This is an advantage that few places have. In addition, from 2021 to present, Bac Yen district has coordinated with Son La Provincial Museum to survey, inventory, and prepare scientific records to propose ranking and restoring and embellishing historical - cultural relics and scenic spots that have not been ranked. To date, the district has 3 ranked relics. Of which, 2 are national historical relics, including: National archaeological relic of Khe Ho ancient stone carving site, Hang Chu commune and National historical relic of Deo Chen, Hua Nhan commune; The historical relic of Resistance Base Area 99 was ranked at the provincial level and 4 relics were included in the list of historical relics - scenic spots of Son La province.

Preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​in tourism development in the highlands of Bac Yen (Son La). Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Coordinate the survey of traditional costumes and production tools of the Mong ethnic group in Ta Xua, Lang Cheu, and Xim Vang communes; collect Mong ethnic cultural documents in Hang Chu and Ta Xua communes to serve the project "Innovation, improvement of quality and efficiency of Son La Provincial Museum associated with tourism in the period 2020-2025, vision to 2030".

Indigenous cultural advantages in tourism development

Bac Yen district has 7 ethnic groups living together and mainly ethnic minorities, such as: Mong ethnic group accounts for 47.12%, Thai ethnic group accounts for 29.82%, Kho Mu ethnic group accounts for 0.15%; Dao ethnic group accounts for 2.85%; Tay ethnic group accounts for 0.001%... Each ethnic group has preserved many traditional cultural festivals. This is an advantage for them to promote and introduce to tourists. In addition, Bac Yen district has directed communes to restore traditional rituals, organize festivals: The establishment ceremony, the title ceremony of the Dao ethnic group; Xen Ban and Xen Muong festivals of the Thai ethnic group; Gau Tao festival of the Mong ethnic group. Focus on restoring and developing the professions of blacksmithing, making khen be, making paper, embroidering brocade costumes, brewing Hang Chu wine, bamboo and rattan weaving of the Muong and Thai people... to serve the people's lives and as souvenirs for tourists.

To develop tourism, Bac Yen district has increased training and fostered knowledge of community tourism for households to raise awareness and service quality... to attract tourists. Photo: Van Ngoc

Identifying tourism development as one of the key tasks, the Party Committee of Bac Yen district has issued a Project on tourism development in Bac Yen district for the period 2021 - 2025 with the goal of creating a destination image and tourism brand with its own characteristics of Bac Yen district; developing Bac Yen tourism in the direction of green and sustainable tourism associated with preserving and promoting traditional cultural values; connecting tourism with key tourist areas of the province and the country. Striving to recognize Bac Yen district as a provincial-level tourist area by 2025.

The tourism development project of Bac Yen district aims to orient the development of suitable tourism products, promoting tourism resources and advantages of the district with the following implementation contents: Supporting the development of diverse tourism products on the basis of exploiting tourism resources well, promoting the advantages of the district. Improving the quality of tourism products, quality of services for tourists. Ensuring the natural and social environment in tourism activities. Improving the quality of tourism human resources. Encouraging the strong development of production industries and supporting tourism services. Building tours. Developing the tourism brand of Bac Yen district; professionalizing tourism promotion and advertising activities. Completing infrastructure for tourism. By 2025, Bac Yen district strives to basically complete infrastructure works of key tourist areas such as: Ta Xua eco-tourism area, Pu Nhi eco-tourism site, Ho Sen - Hua Nhan eco-tourism site; Dinosaur Spine experience and sightseeing spots; infrastructure works of A Phu Cave relic site, Khe Ho Ancient Stone Carving Site relic site and other historical relics...

To develop tourism, Bac Yen district strives to basically complete infrastructure works of key tourist areas in 2025 to best serve tourists when they come to visit and experience. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

As of November 20, 2024, Bac Yen district (Son La) welcomed over 131,760 tourists, reaching 88% of the yearly plan. Of which: 78,280 overnight guests, 53,480 day-trip guests, 862 international guests; estimated revenue reached 72.02 billion VND, reaching 72% of the plan assigned for 2024.

In the coming time, the district will focus on exploiting its unique strengths such as eco-tourism, cultural experiences and mountain exploration. Investing in transport infrastructure, upgrading prominent tourist attractions such as "Ta Xua - cloud paradise" and developing homestays associated with indigenous culture will be the focus. At the same time, the district should promote its image through modern media channels; organize cultural events and traditional festivals to attract tourists. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to environmental protection, preserving national cultural identity and training high-quality human resources to serve the tourism industry. This will be a sustainable direction, contributing to making Bac Yen an attractive destination in the region, contributing to increasing income and reducing poverty, building new rural areas in the area.

Nguyen Vinh - Pure Vietnamese