(HNMCT) - Van Ban is a mountainous district in the southwest, the gateway to Lao Cai province. The natural and human resources here have pure beauty, almost unknown as a locality with tourism strengths. That is both an advantage and a limitation of Van Ban. However, with proper orientation and planning, Van Ban promises to become a high-quality destination along with attractive addresses in other northern mountainous provinces.
Potential “sleeping”
Van Ban possesses extremely diverse natural resources, including forest resources with large areas and reserves, with a coverage rate of 64.8%. The primeval forests with ancient trees and rich ecosystems in Nam Tha, Liem Phu, Nam Xe communes or Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve are the "home" of many rare species of animals and plants. Van Ban's natural landscape is no less attractive than Muong Hoa valley (Sa Pa), Y Ty (Bat Xat) thanks to the unique terraced fields system spread across the valleys of Den Thang, Na Nheo, and Duong Quy.
Van Ban is home to 11 ethnic groups, accounting for 84.6% of the district's population, including Tay, Mong, Dao, Giay, Phu La, San Chay, Xa Pho... Ethnic minorities in Van Ban still preserve relatively intact their customs and 14 unique national intangible cultural heritages such as the Long Tong Festival, Khap Nom folk songs of the Tay people; Ay Lay village praying ceremony of the Dao Ho people; Forest worship ceremony of the Giay people; Khoi Kim ritual of the Red Dao people... In the district, there are still places that mark the history of the nation's fight against foreign invaders such as Na Chuong Revolutionary Base, Pu Gia Lan Historical Relic Site, Khau Co Fort Victory Site... In addition, the district has 1 national historical relic, Co Tan An Temple, and 6 provincial historical and cultural relics.
However, in recent years, Van Ban tourism seems to be still “sleeping”, lacking competitiveness compared to neighboring destinations. Based on rich natural and human resources, Van Ban is oriented to develop tourism alongside the “pillars” of industry, agriculture and urban development.
Differentiated destination brand positioning
From reality, Van Ban realized that it is necessary to orient tourism development with key products such as cultural tourism, eco-tourism and agricultural tourism to exploit the district's advantages optimally. The Dan Thang town area has all the conditions to build these products, which has been planned to become a high-quality tourist town, a highlight of Van Ban tourism as well as Lao Cai province.
According to Chairman of Van Ban District People's Committee Vu Hong Phuong, although it is a "latecomer" locality, with its existing advantages, methodical planning orientation and long-term vision demonstrated through the Dan Thang tourist town planning and the Van Ban district tourism development strategy project to 2030, with a vision to 2050, Van Ban will "come ahead" compared to other localities.
In order to develop tourism associated with preserving culture and sustainable natural landscapes, Vice President of the Community Tourism Association (VCTC) Vu Van Tuyen said that Van Ban needs to rely on the existing experience of neighboring localities to manage risks and mitigate negative impacts caused by natural and human disasters. In addition, there should be specific scenarios in building infrastructure, accommodation systems, and training human resources for tourism. "Van Ban needs to position itself as a different destination, not following in the footsteps of Sa Pa when massive tourism development affects the landscape environment and cultural identity," said Mr. Tuyen.
Referring to the viewpoint of turning core values into added values through developing appropriate services, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Van Sau, former Head of the Faculty of Tourism (Hanoi University of Culture), Van Ban needs to aim for "6 best" criteria, which are: Simple, different, making tourists most satisfied and impressive; Exploiting resources, mobilizing resources best; Bringing the highest benefits to stakeholders; Protecting the ecological environment best possible; Preserving and promoting local cultural values best; Creating and developing the most harmonious relationships in the community.
Sharing the view that cultural preservation for tourism development is the long-term orientation of the province, Deputy Director of Lao Cai Department of Culture and Sports Duong Tuan Nghia said: “Some ethnic minorities such as Tay, Mong Xanh, Xa Pho in Van Ban are currently preserving cultural values that are different from many regions, creating their own unique identity. This is the "asset" that needs to be preserved through the Project to preserve and promote heritage values associated with tourism development of the province. In addition to building cultural, natural, ecological and agricultural tourism products, Lao Cai also focuses on preserving heritages from the risk of fading away, enhancing the transmission of heritage between generations and including them in school education programs. Developing high-quality tourism products with different experiences will contribute to positioning the Van Ban tourism brand in the future”.
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