Tourism development associated with preserving traditional culture

In recent years, Mai Chau has been considered an attractive destination not to be missed for domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Hoa Binh because of the harmonious combination of beautiful mountains and rivers, beautiful natural scenery and traditional cultural features of the indigenous people.

Ambra Manera, an Italian tourist, was walking through stalls filled with handicrafts of ethnic people in Xom Nhot, Na Phon commune, Mai Chau district, when she was unexpectedly invited by Thai women to join in the bamboo dance. From the initial shyness and confusion, the female tourist's footsteps gradually caught up with each small and large bamboo dance to the music. "I was really impressed with the peace and simplicity here," said Manera, who was visiting a northern province in Vietnam for the first time.

Mr. Francois Martine, along with 5 members of the tourist group from France, expressed their excitement and delight when joining the Thai ethnic people in Nhot hamlet in the bamboo dance and learning about the "keeng loong" culture, a form of folk performance of the Thai people that has been recognized as a "National Intangible Cultural Heritage". The foreign tourists happily recorded the interesting experience and said they were surprised by the special creativity of the local people. "It is interesting to see that with just sticks and a large wooden tree, the people here can dance many different dances, creating such vibrant and attractive sounds", said the French tourist.

Ms. Ha Thi Yen, 40 years old, owner of a business in Ban Nhot, Na Phon commune, warmly welcomed the visitors, saying that many households in the village have switched to combining service provision with agricultural production. Most of the items sold at her shop are produced by local people, diverse in types and designs, from brocade shirts and scarves to meticulously and colorfully hand-embroidered bags. Many households have significantly increased their income thanks to tourism, built houses, bought cars, and had their children go to school, Ms. Yen added.

Mr. Ha Van Ngan, Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Phon Commune, Mai Chau District, said that the work of cultural preservation in his commune has recently received attention from the Party and State as well as provincial and district authorities. In the commune, there are "keeng loong" and "Khap Thai" clubs (a traditional singing style of the Thai people), most of which are established and maintained by local people. The commune government has also made efforts to make annual plans for heritage preservation and tourism development, receiving attention and investment from all levels.

Na Phon is a commune in the 135th category, with nearly 790 households, more than 3,300 people, the Thai ethnic group accounts for 98%. In recent years, people's lives have had many positive changes, especially in terms of economy as well as awareness of the Party's guidelines and policies, laws and policies of the State. In 2022, the commune had 183 poor households, but in 2023, this number decreased by nearly half, the average income per capita reached 42 million VND/person/year. The Party Committee, government and people of the commune have united and made efforts to make a breakthrough to soon achieve the criteria to be recognized as a "new rural commune". From purely agricultural production, people have now shifted to combining with tourism and service activities. Currently, the commune has a number of tourism and service development projects being implemented. Mr. Ha Van Ngan hopes that when completed, these projects can create jobs and improve the income and living standards of local people.

Another good thing besides the improvements in economic life, Thai people in Na Phon have a better understanding of the law, ethnic policies as well as methods of livelihood conversion. To achieve this result, it is impossible not to mention the contribution of the Commune Police force. Since 2020, with the deployment of regular police forces to the locality, the security and order situation in the commune has been ensured, people feel secure in working and developing the economy. The Commune Police force has grasped the situation, promptly detected and prevented all kinds of crimes, not allowing hot spots of security and order to arise, in addition, coordinating with local organizations to go to each household to mobilize and propagate people to abandon superstitious practices, not to have a third child, and build a great national unity bloc, Mr. Ha Van Ngan shared. Ms. Lo Thi Mai, the owner of a lodging facility in Na Phon, said that she and her family members had faced many difficulties when farming was not enough to feed their families, and they had to go to the city to find work every time the harvest season ended, but life was still very precarious.

In particular, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she and many other local workers were even more devastated. After the pandemic ended, with encouragement from the commune government, she boldly borrowed capital and combined agricultural production with accommodation services. Up to now, when tourism activities have recovered, the number of visitors to her facility has also stabilized, bringing good income to the family. Taking advantage of the strengths of nature and culture, not only Na Phon but also many communes in Mai Chau have become attractive destinations for tourists.

The good reputation spreads far and wide, the number of tourists coming to Mai Chau increases every year. Revenue from tourism contributes greatly to the economic and social development of the district. In early 2023, Mai Chau was among the 10 friendliest places in Vietnam by the Traveller Review Award.

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