4:12:09 PM | 14/8/2007
On the Vietnamese tourism map, Hoa Binh is a recognized tourism destination with a variety of landscapes. This is the homeland of the ancient Vietnamese people. Hoa Binh is the home of folklore and epics of traditionally culture.
Hoa Binh is one of 15 provinces and cities in the central tourism region, one of the most important tourist areas in Vietnam. The province is considered the transition point for tours from Hanoi to north-western provinces. Here, nature and human beings have created landscapes and cultural relics.
Hoa Binh, the gateway to the north-western region, has diversified terrain with many high mountains, long rivers, large lakes, beautiful caves, rich flora and fauna, and abundant mineral water sources. Many forests in Hoa Binh are primitive jungles like Pu Hooc (Mai Chau District), Thuong Tien (Kim Boi District) and Pu Canh (Da Bac District). These are ideal conditions to develop ecological tourism. Besides, the limestone mountains create many attractive caves like Hoa Tien in Tan Lac District, Phu Lao in Lac Thuy District, Mo Luong in Mai Chau District, Luon in Lac Thuy District and Da Bac in Luong Son District.
This is also the home of ancient Vietnamese people and the cradle of the renowned “Hoa Binh Culture.” Currently, Hoa Binh has archaeological sites and relics that reflect the thriving period of the Muong Culture. This is also the home of many friendly peoples like Muong, Dao, Tay, Mong and Kinh, each of which has its own cultural life, customs and traditions.
Besides, Hoa Binh has the largest hydropower project in Southeast Asia, supported by an 8,000-hectare lake with hundreds of islets. This is viewed as the “Ha Long Bay” in the upland. In Hoa Binh, visitors will see typically houses on stilts, local cuisine, can wine (local wine that drinkers have to use a pipe to taste), and brocades.
Defining tourism as a major economic sector, Hoa Binh province has concrete policies to mobilise available sources to develop tourism. The province has nearly 30 tourism projects, with many costly ones like the national culture village in Luong Son District and Phu Miny ecological tourist site in Ky Son District. At the same time, the province also advertises local tourism potential in Vietnam and in the world, highlighting traditional festivals.
Hoa Binh also restructures the operation of travel firms to ensure healthy and sustainable development of the tourism industry. As a result, the number of tourists to Hoa Binh increases steadily. In 2002, arrivals reached 253,000, generating VND15 billion in revenue. In 2005, the province served 303,000 arrivals, including 29,000 internationals, and earned over VND25.3 billion revenues.
Luong Anh Tuan