Quang Binh has "The best tourist village in the world"

On the afternoon of October 19, the People's Committee of Quang Binh province held a press conference to inform about Tan Hoa village, Tan Hoa commune, Minh Hoa district - the only village in Vietnam to be honored by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as "The best tourist village in the world" in 2023.

Press conference to announce that Tan Hoa Village is the only village in Vietnam to be honored by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as "The World's Best Tourist Village" in 2023.

Yesterday (October 18), in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), UNWTO officially announced Tan Hoa as "The best tourist village in the world" after evaluating 260 profiles from 60 countries.

Vietnam has four tourist villages submitting applications from the provinces of Quang Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and Hoa Binh, but Tan Hoa (Quang Binh) with its "weather-adapted tourist village" model is the only one to be honored.

Tan Hoa village is considered the "flood center" of Quang Binh. In 2010, Tan Hoa witnessed a historic flood with water levels rising 12 meters, submerging most of the houses. Villagers had to evacuate to caves and cliffs to take shelter while waiting for the water to recede.

A corner of Tan Hoa village seen from above

In 2011, Tan Hoa residents had the initiative to build rafts to survive the floods. In 2012, they improved it into a floating house model, helping people live normally during the floods.

As of 2023, Tan Hoa has 620 floating houses built 100% from donations from philanthropists. Currently, Tan Hoa is also developing a flood season tourism experience model.

Mr. Ho An Phong, Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee, assessed that Tan Hoa being honored as "World's Best Tourist Village" in 2023 is an honor for Vietnam in general and Quang Binh in particular.

"This is a village that is both intimate, close and remote, a valley surrounded by rocky mountains on all sides, with overlapping ranges of curtains. And it is the most "vulnerable" village in Quang Binh when the flood comes. Despite the difficulties, Tan Hoa is blessed by nature with rare forests, beautiful caves, rustic, peaceful landscapes and unique, distinct indigenous culture and cuisine. Being honored as "The best tourist village in the world" will open up a great opportunity to welcome a large number of tourists to Tan Hoa in the future" - Mr. Phong shared.

Peaceful life in Tan Hoa village

The "World's Best Tourist Village" award is a global initiative of UNWTO to honor villages where tourism preserves and promotes values, products and lifestyles based on rural communities, while promoting innovation and sustainability.

As of 2022, more than 70 villages from nearly 40 countries have been recognized by UNWTO as “Best Tourist Villages”. These villages are exemplary rural tourism destinations that offer authentic, diverse experiences to visitors, while creating opportunities and benefits for local people and the environment.

According to information from the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, after evaluating the dossier, UNWTO recognized the rich and outstanding cultural and natural resources of Tan Hoa village. In addition, the village's commitments and actions on sustainable tourism development are also factors that helped Tan Hoa be honored.

Tan Hoa is oriented to develop according to the model of a tourist village that adapts to the weather, providing diverse experiences for tourism such as homestay.

Tan Hoa is oriented to develop according to the model of a tourist village that adapts to the weather, providing diverse experiences for tourism such as homestay.

Tan Hoa people have known how to do homestay business to experience farming, eat at local houses, and souvenir stalls.

At the end of 2022, through practical consultation in Tan Hoa, representatives of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (now the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) proposed that Tan Hoa participate in the "World's Best Tourist Village" award of UNWTO.

Realizing this is a good opportunity to promote Tan Hoa and the region, representatives of Oxalis Adventure Company coordinated with Tan Hoa Commune People's Committee, Minh Hoa District People's Committee and Quang Binh Province Department of Tourism to plan to build a tourist village model according to UNWTO standards to participate in the award.

"Tan Hoa's winning of this prestigious award is a solid foundation to help the village reach out to the world, gradually becoming a key tourist center in the northwestern region of Quang Binh," said a representative of Oxalis Adventure.

Oxalis Adventure representative said Tan Hoa is oriented to develop according to the model of a tourist village that adapts to the weather, providing diverse experiences for tourism such as homestay, farming experience, dining at local houses, and souvenir stalls.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su/quang-binh-co-lang-du-lich-tot-nhat-the-gioi-20231019181458001.htm