In order to develop interconnected tour routes and tourist destinations throughout the province, especially connecting Quynh Nhai and Thuan Chau districts with other districts in the province and with neighboring provinces, from December 25-27, the Son La Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Provincial Tourism Association, in coordination with the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club, organized a Famtrip program to promote, survey, and introduce destinations and connect tour routes in Quynh Nhai and Thuan Chau districts.

The Famtrip delegation surveyed several destinations and connected tours and travel routes in Thuan Chau and Quynh Nhai districts, Son La province. (Photo: Phuong Cuc)

With the goal of connecting tourism regions and destinations, creating balance between regions, in 2024, Son La decided to select Quynh Nhai and Thuan Chau districts to invite experts, travel agencies, and media outlets to conduct surveys and frankly contribute opinions. This will help localities clearly see the current state of tourism products, tourist areas, and destinations, so that fundamental solutions can be found to overcome difficulties, attract more tourists, and guide the development of a national tourism zone around the Son La hydroelectric reservoir.

Over two days, the delegation surveyed and experienced firsthand various locations, including offering incense, visiting and learning about the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, the Thuan Chau Monument, Binh Thuan Farm; paying respects at the Martyrs' Memorial Temple in the Pha Din Pass historical and cultural area; and surveying several tourist areas and OCOP product exhibitions in Pha Din Pass, Thuan Chau district, and the Song Da reservoir area (Uy Phong Bay, Binh Yen Bay, Heart Island, fish farming areas on the Song Da reservoir...) in Quynh Nhai district.

Within the framework of the program, to listen to contributions and share experiences from researchers, tourism experts, travel agencies, and tourism service businesses in order to develop tourism products and tourist destinations in Thuan Chau and Quynh Nhai districts, the Son La Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center organized a seminar on "Developing tourism products, routes, and destinations in Thuan Chau and Quynh Nhai districts" on December 27th.

Sharing their views at the seminar, representatives from many travel agencies contributed ideas for tourism in Quynh Nhai and Thuan Chau districts. Dr. Tran Thi Ngan Giang, Deputy General Director of the Technology Transfer and Sustainable Community Tourism Development Joint Stock Company (TTSC), commented: "Through the two-day Famtrip, I saw some weaknesses in tourism here. There was a lot of plastic waste on the roads, so the local authorities need to raise awareness among the people about environmental cleanup. Passing through Mong and Thai villages, I noticed many brick houses and many people wearing Kinh (Vietnamese) clothing."

Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of Hitech Tourism Construction Joint Stock Company, believes that Son La has long had a famous tourist area, Moc Chau. However, Moc Chau is now only considered the first destination for tours to the Northwest along National Highway 6. Therefore, developing tourism in Thuan Chau and Quynh Nhai is the right direction. The Son La hydroelectric reservoir area is a gem, with prospects that will surpass even Moc Chau.

However, Mr. Dung believes that,

We need to honor the unique identity of the Thai people as a guiding principle for tourism development. Service points should be built in traditional stilt houses, not multi-story concrete and steel hotels like we are currently seeing. Because the strength here lies in its natural beauty, highlighting the natural character of this place is what is truly important.

Mr. Phan Thanh Tung, Director of Vietnam Travel Joint Stock Company, believes that tourists are currently very interested in carbon credits and reducing emissions in tourism activities. Therefore, it is necessary to limit bringing iron, steel, bricks, and tiles into this natural area.

Mr. Tung suggested: Every resident here can do media and marketing for their village. Therefore, training courses on video production, YouTube, and TikTok should be organized for people in the villages here. Don't just say: "Quynh Nhai is beautiful, tourists should come!" Instead, provide tourists with what they need and like, not just what you have.

Phuong Cuc - Ngoc Hoa