Saturday 26 October 2024

Hoa Binh: Mai Chau district preserves and develops tourist villages associated with traditional cultural values

In 2023, the social customs and beliefs of the Thai ethnic group in
 Mai Chau, Keng Loong, were recognized by the Ministry of Culture,
Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
As a mountainous district of Hoa Binh province, Mai Chau has 7 ethnic groups living there for a long time, of which ethnic minorities account for over 80%. In recent years, the work of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups associated with the development of community tourism (DLCĐ) in the district has been effectively maintained and exploited.

With a group of friends visiting the Lac Village Community Cultural Heritage Site, Chieng Chau Commune, Mr. Le Anh Son, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi City shared: Temporarily leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, we were immersed in the poetic natural scenery of the mountains. With golden fields ready for harvest, next to the communal stilt houses of the Thai ethnic people, it created a great attraction. Coming here, we enjoyed traditional dishes, watched cultural performances imbued with identity, and held hands with the bamboo dance that made visitors not want to leave.

Comrade Nguyen Tran Anh, Secretary of Mai Chau District Party Committee, said: Promoting the advantages of natural landscapes and unique cultural features of ethnic groups in the area, especially the unique Thai ethnic culture, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee issued Resolution No. 15-NQ/HU, dated January 10, 2020 on preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups associated with tourism development in the district for the period 2020 - 2025 and vision to 2030; Plan No. 11-KH/HU, dated September 23, 2020 on implementing Conclusion No. 76-KL/TW, dated June 4, 2020 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 33-NQ/TW; Project on Developing Community Tourism to 2025, with a vision to 2030. The Standing Committee of Mai Chau District Party Committee has directed the Party Committees and authorities at all levels of the district to focus on implementing well the planning work, attracting investment, encouraging the development of community tourism associated with preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities. This is determined to be both a solution and a goal to build the brand of Mai Chau district as an Attractive - Friendly and Safe tourist destination.

The highlight to attract tourists to the highland district of Mai Chau is the cultural values ​​that are preserved and effectively promoted. The district has established clubs: Preservation and development of Thai culture in Mai Chau, Khap Thai, Youth to preserve ethnic cultural identity, Preservation and development of indigenous knowledge... The district organized seminars to research and collect customs and practices of ethnic groups in the district, such as publishing the book "Learning about the history and culture of the Thai people in Mai Chau", the book "Anthology of Thai ethnic folk literature in Mai Chau district"; publishing the book "Propaganda and education documents on the history of Mai Chau district" and the book "Propaganda and education documents on the history of the Mai Chau district Party Committee". Building an exhibition area for artifacts and antiques of the Thai ethnic group. Restoring and maintaining the organization of the Xen Muong Festival of the Thai ethnic group and the Gau Tao festival of the Mong ethnic group; coordinating the organization of the Highland Market. The folk games Keng Loong, To Le, Throwing Con, Tug of War, Pushing Sticks, traditional costumes of ethnic groups... are preserved through traditional cultural activities, during weddings and festivals. Notably, in 2023, the social customs and beliefs of Keng Loong of the Thai people in Mai Chau were recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Thereby, helping visitors experience the ethnic cultural identity, while turning culture into unique tourism products, attracting domestic and international tourists. Typical are the community-based tourism villages of the Thai people such as Lac village, Chieng Chau commune; Pom Coong residential group, Van residential group, Mai Chau town; Buoc village, Xam Khoe commune; Hich village - or Muong Hich, Mai Hich commune; community-based tourism sites in Hang Kia, Pa Co, Na Phon, Son Thuy, Tan Thanh communes.

In addition, all levels and sectors have actively promoted and mobilized organizations and individuals to research, innovate and diversify tourism products; open new tours and routes; build models of cultural activities, healthy cultural activity spots, focusing on building community-based tourism models, cultural and ecological tourism, in which traditional culture plays a key role. From various sources, the district has invested in building and upgrading a number of traffic infrastructure projects, restoring and embellishing historical relics, scenic spots, preserving and developing tangible and intangible cultural heritage, gradually meeting the needs of tourists to visit and learn. Currently, the district has 5 historical and cultural relics and scenic spots recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The whole district has 197 tourist accommodation establishments, including 4 resorts, 9 hotels meeting 1-3 star standards, 31 motels, and 153 community motels. In July 2020, Mai Chau district was recognized as a provincial tourist area. In 2022 and 2023, Mai Chau was in the Top 10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam announced by the famous booking site Booking.com. In 2023, the whole district welcomed over 656,700 visitors, of which over 84,130 were international visitors, with total revenue of 672,938 million VND. In the first 6 months of 2024, the district welcomed 494,160 visitors, of which nearly 102,180 were international visitors, with total revenue estimated at 592,973 million VND.

Comrade Nguyen Tran Anh, Secretary of Mai Chau District Party Committee added: In the current context, developing tourism associated with protecting resources, environment, preserving and promoting ethnic cultural values ​​is an urgent requirement to promote the sustainable development of the tourism industry in particular and the socio-economic sector in general. With specific plans and orientations, along with the active participation of authorities at all levels and people of all walks of life, the unique cultural features of ethnic groups in Mai Chau district are preserved and developed, forming typical tourism products, which will contribute to honoring and promoting the cultural heritage values ​​of ethnic groups, making tourism an important and sustainable economic sector of the district.
* Huong Lan, Hoa Binh Electronic Newspaper - baohoabinh.com.vn
Keywords: Peace,Mai Chau,tourism development,cultural preservation,

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